Senior Jillian Bivert

The victories marked the first day of the three-day, five-game tournament. The Hornets return to action Saturday, Feb. 8, against Colorado State (11:30 a.m.) and host Cal Poly (2 p.m.) before wrapping up the round-robin tournament on Sunday, Feb. 9, against Nevada (2 p.m.).

The Hornets improved to 2-2 as Sacramento State starters Jillian Bivert and Nicole Deatherage combined to allow just 10 hits and three runs in 14 innings. The victory over UC Santa Barbara (5-1) was the first loss of the season for the Gauchos while San Diego dropped to 0-1.

In the victory over UC Santa Barbara, Deatherage (1-1) picked up her first victory of the season as the junior allowed five hits and one run in seven innings. Senior Jillian Bivert led the Hornet offense as the team co-captain drove in all three runs, including a two-run double in the third inning. Bivert has hit now hit safely in three of four games this season.

UC Santa Barbara picked up its only run in the fourth inning on an RBI-single by Jami Trinidad. Deatherage allowed just one runner past second base during the entire contest and retired the first eight batters of the game. The Gauchos'' Loren Thornburg (2-1) picked up the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) and four hits in seven innings.

In the victory over San Diego, sophomore Lesley Mayhorn''s RBI-single in the sixth inning scored pinch runner Stephanie Lockhart with what proved to be the game-winning run. Junior Amanda Moreland tripled with one out before Lockhart was called on to pinch run. San Diego had erased a 2-0 deficit as Sara Mason hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning.

Sacramento State opened the scoring in the first inning after junior Amy Walter was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Bivert. The Hornets added to their lead in the third inning when Amber Dragomir scored from second base on a throwing error by right-fielder Gina McFarland after an Erin Coyne single. Three Hornets finished with two hits in the game comprising freshman Lindy Winkler (2-for-4), Coyne (2-for-3) and Moreland (2-for-3).

Bivert (1-0) picked up the win in her first start of the season, allowing two runs and five hits while striking out four in seven innings. Anna Russell (0-1) got the loss for San Diego, allowing three runs and seven hits in 5.2 innings. Sacramento State left the bases loaded in the first, third and sixth innings. Through four games this season, the Hornets have now left 35 runners on base.

Winkler has now hit safely in all four games and leads the team with a .462 batting average, a .533 on-base percentage and a .615 slugging percentage. Four Hornets are hitting at least .300 comprising Winkler, Moreland (.364), Coyne (.333) and Mayhorn (.300). Sophomore Amy Hillel''s error in the fourth inning against UC Santa Barbara marked the first and only error the Hornets have committed this season.