Last season, Sacramento State’s pitching carried the team to the fourth seed in the inaugural Big Sky Conference tournament, but this season the pitching staff will not have to burden so much of the load.

First year head coach Lori Perez has transitioned from more of a small ball mentality to letting her players swing away.

The transition from small ball happened in the first game this season on the road against UC Davis. It failed against the Aggies and it was at that point when Perez wanted to make the most out of her team’s at-bats.

“I didn’t like how it looked to me against Davis,” Perez said. “They [Davis] did a good job getting the lead runner out every time we would lay down the sacrifice bunt.”

So far since transitioning from last season’s style of play to a more aggressive style, it has paid off. The Hornets have 19 doubles, two triples, one home run and has 38 RBIs so dar this season.

Another reason the Hornets transitioned from playing small ball to what this year’s squad is doing, the speed within the roster is just not there from seasons’ past.

Despite the lack of speed on the roster, Perez said she is not afraid to ask her team to lay down the sacrifice bunts.

Perez may not ask to sacrifice runners over with bunts 15 times in a game, but she will ask for one if the right situation presents itself.

Junior outfielder Nicole Clark is leading the team this season with two sacrifice bunts in the first 14 games.

Whether is it hitting the home run or the rare opportunity for a sacrifice bunt, the Hornets are buying into the system that Perez has produced this season offensively.

Freshman center fielder Shelby Johnston, who hit her first career home run on Saturday against Saint Mary’s, has welcomed the idea of swinging the bats to move runners over.

She is not only leading the team with one home run, but she is tied for third on the team with 4 RBIs in the first 14 games.

“There are times to play small ball and there are times in games that you need to swing away,” Johnston said. “I like the idea of coach Perez giving us a chance to get on base with our bats.”.

The idea of playing of small ball does not scare Johnston, but she is more comfortable moving over runners by getting on base with her bat.

“I can play small ball, but I like to swing away a lot more because its more fun for me to do.” Johnston said.

Sac State travels to San Luis Obispo, Calif. to compete against in the five-game Mustang Classic Tournament on March 7-9.

Clifton can be reached on Twitter at @jonesSHsports