The Hornets (16-7 overall this season) finished the tournament with a 2-3 record as all three losses came to ranked opponents, including No. 24 Minnesota and No. 8 Cal. Sacramento State defeated Virginia Tech and host San Jose State for its two victories. With the win, Arizona State, which finished third at the 11-team tournament, improved to 22-7. Cal was crowned tournament champions by virtue of its 6-0 win over 23rd-ranked Oregon in the championship game.

Sacramento State scored a season-high nine runs, including seven runs in the second inning, but could not stop Arizona State''s offensive attack. The game featured a combined 21 runs and 29 hits with at least one team scoring in every inning. Seven Sun Devil starters finished with at least two hits, including Kristin Farber and Kara Brun who each finished with three. Three Sacramento State pitchers made an appearance in the contest while each gave up at least one run.

The Hornets had four players finish with multiple-hit games comprising freshman Lindy Winkler (3-for-4 with a triple and a run), junior Amber Dragomir (3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI), sophomore Erin Coyne (2-for-4 with two RBIs) and junior Nicole Deatherage (2-for-2 with a run). Winkler''s triple gives her six for the season, tying a Sacramento State single-season record. Coyne, who was named to the all-tournament team, tallied five RBIs over the last two days and now has a team-best 23 this year.

After Arizona State scored four runs in the top of the first on a grand slam by Cheryl Evans, Sacramento State responded with its biggest inning of the year in the second. The Hornets sent 13 players to the plate in the inning while tallying seven runs and six hits. The big blow in the inning came on a two-out, two-run single from Coyne. The Hornets chased Arizona State starter Ashley Werschky in the second as she lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing seven runs (three earned) and six hits.

The Sun Devils, however, responded with three runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, three more in the sixth and one in the seventh. Evans'' RBI-double to start the sixth inning put Arizona State up for good as she finished with a game-high five RBIs. Hornet starter Deatherage lasted just 3.1 innings, allowing six runs and seven hits. Senior Gina Steenburgen faced two batters in relief before sophomore Brianne Ferguson took over with one out in the fourth inning.

Ferguson (6-3) eventually took the loss, giving up five runs and nine hits in 3.2 innings. Ferguson has now allowed 13 runs over her last three outings after giving up just four runs during her eight previous appearances.

Desiree Serrano (14-4) picked up the win in relief, allowing two runs (one earned) and five hits in 5.1 innings. After the Hornets tallied eight runs and eight hits through the first three innings, the team could muster just one run and three hits during the final four innings.

Sacramento State does not play again until Tuesday, March 18, when the team hosts Iowa for a doubleheader at 1 p.m.