Sophomore Erin Coyne |
POWAY, Calif. – Sacramento State posted a perfect 5-0 record and was crowned champions of the Campbell/Cartier Softball Tournament after defeating both Loyola Marymount (5-3 in 10 innings) and Cal State Northridge (5-4) Sunday afternoon at Sportsplex USA.Sacramento State has now won six games in a row while improving its record 9-3 this season. The 9-3 start is the program''s best since the 1995 squad opened the season with a 11-1 record. The 1995 team also went on to reach the NCAA Regionals later in the season.
The Hornets, who were the only team to go undefeated at the 11-team tournament, beat Kansas, New Mexico and UC Santa Barbara prior to today''s victories. After dropping its first two games of the season to 21st-ranked Pacific, Sacramento State has won nine of its last 10 games and has outscored its opponents, 40-17, over that span.
Junior Nicole Deatherage (4-2) picked up victories in both games today as the pitcher combined to throw 10.0 innings.
In the Hornets'' first game of the day, Sacramento State posted three runs in the top of the 10th inning on RBI-singles from Amy Walter, Jillian Bivert and Amanda Moreland to defeat Loyola Marymount. The Lions threatened in the bottom of the 10th after a one-out, RBI-double by Danielle Kaminaka, but Deatherage got out of the inning after retiring the next two batters in succession.
The Hornets scored a pair of runs in the first inning on a two-run single by sophomore Erin Coyne. The Lions responded with two runs in the sixth on an RBI-single from Trisha Gomes and a sacrifice fly from Casie Phillips. Deatherage picked up the win in relief as the junior allowed one unearned run and three hits in five innings. Bivert went the first five innings, giving up two runs and six hits in five innings. Sami Strinz (1-5) got the loss for Loyola Marymount, allowing three runs and four hits in 5.1 innings of relief.
In the second game of the day, Sacramento State posted single runs in the first and third innings, and three more in the fifth as the Hornets never trailed in the game. Sacramento State''s Lesley Mayhorn, Walter, Coyne and Moreland each finished with two hits as the team pounded out 10 hits, its second-largest output of the season. Coyne and Moreland each finished with two RBIs. Coyne now has seven RBIs over her last five games.
Cal State Northridge threatened in the bottom of the seventh as a Sondra Milchiker double put runners at second and third base with one out. Sacramento State reliever Brianne Ferguson, however, got Janine Grund to strike out before walking Jade Abel to load the bases with two outs. Ferguson then ended things by striking out Shannon Acevedo to pick up her second save of the season.
Deatherage got the win despite allowing four runs and eight hits in five innings. Jenny Wheeler (2-4) took the loss for the Matadors as she gave up five runs (four earned) and nine hits in four innings.
Five Hornets hit above .300 during the five-game tournament comprising Coyne (.462), Moreland (.385), Bivert (.353), Amber Dragomir (.333) and Walter (.313). Sacramento State''s pitching staff combined to allow just six earned runs and 27 hits in 38.0 innings (1.11 ERA). Deatherage went 3-0 while Ferguson went 2-0 with a save.
The Hornets return to action next week for their home opener against Nevada on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Doubleheader action begins at 1 p.m. at newly-renovated Shea Stadium on the Sacramento State campus. The Hornets wrap up the week with two games at San Jose State on Saturday, Feb. 22, at noon.
