The games marked the conference opener for both teams as Sacramento State won game one, 6-1, before taking game two, 2-1. Ferguson (9-7) limited Saint Mary''s to seven hits and one run to pick up the victory in game one while Deatherage (10-6) allowed just two hits and one run, including nine strikeouts, to record the win in game two. Winkler had a pair of hits in both games while recording the game-winning hit in the first game and scoring the game-winning run in the nightcap.

With the victories, Sacramento State has now won six of its last eight while improving its record to 23-15 overall and 2-0 in the PCSC. Saint Mary''s dropped to 17-15 and 0-2 in the conference. The Hornets had spent each of the last six years in the Big West Conference prior to opening Pacific Coast Softball Conference play today.

In the first game, Sacramento State scored one run in the fourth, three more in the fifth and two in the sixth while cruising to the 6-1 victory. After Saint Mary''s scored the game''s first run in the third inning on an Eleni Papailias RBI-single, the Hornets took advantage of a Gael error to tie the score in the fourth. In the fifth, Winkler''s RBI-single put the Hornets up for good. Amy Walter followed with an RBI-triple and came around to score after Saint Mary''s pitcher Jordan Larsen mishandled the relay throw.

The Hornets added two insurance runs in the sixth on a two-run single from Deatherage. Ferguson worked her way out of trouble all day as Saint Mary''s had at least one base runner in every inning. The Gaels had the chance to break open the game early but could not score despite putting runners at second and third with one out in the first, and loading the bases with no outs in the second.

Larsen (7-7) got the loss, allowing seven hits and six runs (two earned) in six innings.

In the second game, Deatherage''s only blemishes were a fourth-inning solo home run from Jennifer Arnold and a fifth-inning single from Marcia-Marie Euker. Deatherage''s nine strikeouts were one shy of her career high as she retired the final seven batters of the game, including striking out the side in the seventh.

Sophomore Erin Coyne''s two-out, RBI-single in the third put the Hornets on top, 1-0. Saint Mary''s answered with a run in the fourth on Arnold''s solo blast. Sacramento State had runners at the corners with two outs in the fifth when Amanda Moreland''s routine ground ball was booted by Gael second baseman Euker allowing Winkler to score what proved to be the game-winning run.

Coyne finished the game 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI as she reached base safely in all but two at-bats during the doubleheader. Walter had three sacrifices during the doubleheader and increased her program-record mark to 22 this season.

Jennifer Eaton (9-7) got the loss for Saint Mary''s, allowing six hits and two runs (one earned) in six innings. Arnold''s home run was her fifth of the season.

Sacramento State and Saint Mary''s wrap up the four-game series with a doubleheader tomorrow (Sunday, April 6) at Shea Stadium.