Sacramento State softball had good pitching, but split its first two games of the Mustang Softball Classic against Santa Clara University and Stony Brook University, Friday in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

The Hornets beat Santa Clara 6-2 before losing to Stony Brook, 2-1.

In the first game, Sac State breezed by Santa Clara, thanks to scoring five runs in the second inning. The Hornets had two doubles and a single that all came with two outs in the second.

“We did a great job squaring up and putting the ball into play,” softball head coach Lori Perez said. “As a team, once we score the first run, it really takes the edge off of us and we score more easily.”

The inning started with a single and stolen base from junior right fielder Paige Martin and a 2-out double from senior second baseman Yesenia Alcala that scored Martin. Alcala would later score on an error by the Broncos first baseman, Kelly Scribner.

Junior left fielder Alexa Chattleton doubled in the next at-bat before freshman center fielder Shelby Johnston drove her in with a single to right field.

Hornets senior pitcher Taylor Stroud allowed only two runs, one earned on three hits and three strikeouts.

In the second game of the day, the Sac State’s offense came out flat only mustering up four hits. The pitching, however, continued to be strong.

Hornets sophomore pitcher Jennifer Hartman settled down after letting a run score in each of the first two innings. She set down six consecutive batters, and only allowed one hit over the last five innings.

“I wanted to stay composed after the second inning and pitch well to keep my team in the game,” Hartman said.

Hartman finished the game against Stony Brook giving up two runs, one earned run, on four hits, two walks and two strikeouts.

Sac State had trouble offensively against Stony Brook’s pitcher Allison Cukrov. Its first hit against Cukrov came in the fourth inning and the only run she allowed was in the seventh.

Perez said the second game was not the team’s best effort at the plate as the team had a hard time adjusting to Cukrov’s pitches.

Sac State will compete in the second day of the Mustang Softball Classic with a doubleheader on Saturday starting off against tournament host, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at 4 p.m. The Hornets will then take on Fairleigh Dickinson University at 7 p.m.

Clifton can be reached on Twitter at @jonesSHsports