SOFTBALL SPLITS A PAIR IN FIRST DAY OF THE PCSC CROSSOVER TOURNAMENT
2/24/2012
Junior Kelli Frye collected a career-high five RBIs in the Hornets' win over Northern Colorado
MORAGA, Calif. -- Sacramento State’s Kelli Frye had five RBIs and Shannon Kaufman combined for four hits over two games to help lead the Hornets to a split in the team’s first two games of the PCSC Softball Crossover Tournament Friday afternoon at Cottrell Field.
Sacramento State lost the first game to Seattle, 5-4, before coming back in the nightcap to beat Northern Colorado by a 9-2 score. The Hornets scored three times in the seventh inning against Seattle, and had the bases loaded with two outs, but a line drive off the bat of Alyssa Nakken was caught for the final out of the game. Against Northern Colorado, nine different Hornets had at least one hit as the team posted season highs in runs (9) and hits (15).
With the split, Sacramento State (5-3) begins the three-day tournament with a 1-1 record. The Hornets will wrap up the tournament with a game against Portland State on both Saturday and Sunday. The Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC) is split up into two division of six teams each, and the idea of this week’s tournament is to play teams from the other division. Three teams from the Coastal Division (Sacramento State, Santa Clara and Saint Mary’s) and three teams from the Mountain Division (Portland State, Seattle and Northern Colorado) are taking part in the tournament.
In the game against Northern Colorado (8-4), Sacramento State scored in four different innings, including one in the second, two in both the third and fourth innings, and four in the sixth inning. Kaufman (3-for-3 with a walk, stolen base and a sacrifice), Emily McCormick (3-for-5 with a run and two RBIs), Marissa Navarro (2-for-3) and Frye (2-for-4 with a triple, RBI and five RBIs) each had multiple-hit games for the Hornets. The five RBIs for Frye were easily a single-game career high, and surpassed her total from all of last season. The Corona, Calif., native had an RBI-groundout in the second inning, an RBI-single in the third, and a three-run triple in the sixth.
McCormick had RBI-singles in both the third and fourth innings, and Molly Smith collected her first career triple to lead off the second inning. The nine runs were more than enough for Hornet right-hander Taylor Stroud, who went the distance while allowing seven hits and two runs (one earned). Stroud, who is now 4-0 this season, walked none and struck out five batters. Four different Northern Colorado pitchers appeared in the game, and starter Mikayla Duffy (3-3) got the loss, allowing three runs and five hits in 2.1 innings.
In the game against Seattle, the Hornets nearly overcame a four-run seventh inning deficit for the second time in three days. But for the second time in three days, Sacramento State left the bases loaded when the final out was recorded. Against San Jose State on Wednesday, the Hornets trailed, 5-1, in the seventh inning and scored three times before the final out was recorded. It was the same exact situation today.
Trailing, 5-1, entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the Hornets strung together four hits including a two-run single by Devin Caldwell, and a bases-loaded walk to Navarro. All three runs were scored with two outs in the inning, and things looked good when one of the team’s best clutch hitters (Nakken) stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. However, Seattle reliever Richelle Ashburn got Nakken to line out to second base and end the game.
The Hornets had been held to just one hit through the first six innings by Seattle starter Mandie Sugita before breaking out for four hits in the seventh. Caldwell had two of those hits (2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs) and is now riding a five-game hitting streak – one shy of her career high.
Sugita (1-2) got the win, allowing two runs and two hits in six-plus innings. Sacramento State starter Caitlin Brooks (1-3) got the loss after allowing three hits, four runs (three earned), three walks and four strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Hornet reliever Shelby Voelz pitched 3.1 strong innings of relief to keep the team in the game.
