SOFTBALL FINISHES POOL PLAY 2-2, WILL FACE UTAH STATE IN FIRST ROUND OF BRACKET PLAY
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Sacramento State softball team finished Capital Classic pool play with a 2-2 record and will face Utah State in the first round of championship bracket play tomorrow (Saturday, March 16) at 9 a.m. at the Sacramento Softball Complex.The Hornets, who defeated IUPUI on Thursday, went 1-2 today including a victory over Middle Tennessee (4-3) and losses to Virginia (4-2) and UNLV (3-0). The Hornets are guaranteed to play at least two games tomorrow as the team will either advance in the championship round or move to the consolation bracket depending on its outcome against Utah State.
The Hornets are currently 10-16 overall.
In the game against Virginia, the Cavaliers jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning as Hornet starter Gina Steenburgen (1-3) lasted just 2/3 of an inning, allowing three runs and two hits. The Cavaliers’ Heather Field opened the scoring with an RBI-single before a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Johanna Kaiser and a bases-loaded walk to Stephanie Calhoun made the score, 3-0.
Virginia (21-8) added another run in the fourth inning on an RBI-single by Valerie Sevilla to lead, 4-0. Sacramento State cut the lead in half (4-2) in the sixth inning on an RBI-single by Coyne and a Virginia error allowing Coyne to score. The Hornets could have tallied more runs, but Cavalier center fielder Katie Weinberg threw out Jillian Bivert at home trying to score from second on Coyne’s single.
The Hornets left eight runners on base, including five in the last two innings (three in the sixth and two in the seventh). Virginia had just four hits, but took advantage of five walks allowed by Hornet pitching. Sacramento State finished the game with nine hits as Coyne and Coupar each finished with a pair.
Sevilla (5-2) picked up the win for Virginia, allowing two runs (one earned) and nine hits in seven innings of work.
Against UNLV, Jackie Kerrigan (5-6) threw a one-hit shutout as the Rebels went on to the 3-0 victory. Kerrigan’s only blemish was a fourth-inning single by Coupar.
The Rebels scored one run in the second inning and tacked on two more in the sixth. UNLV’s nos. 1-5 hitters went a combined 7-for-18 from the plate, comprising Lisa Moses (1-for-4), Bridgette Byrne (1-for-4), Geney Orris (1-for-3), Pauline Glenn (2-for-4) and Morgan Bostwick (2-for-3).
Jillian Bivert (4-9) picked up the loss for the Hornets, allowing three runs (two earned) and seven hits in seven innings of work.
