Following Thursday’s 0-2 start in the Capital Classic, Sac State hopedfor a better showing Friday, but it lost to Louisville in an afternoongame at the Sacramento Softball Complex.

Freshman pitcher Nicole Deatherage pitched four innings for the Hornets.The game was close through the fifth inning, but the Hornets could notkeep up with Louisville?s offense, and lost to the Cardinals, 12-7.

“We have been inconsistent inning by inning and within our season,”Deatherage said.Louisville scored three runs in the fifth inning and five in the nextone to put the game out of reach for the Hornets.

“It is tough right now but we just have to work through it,” Deatheragesaid. “Our goal is to be in it (the tournament) on Sunday.”

The Hornets had their opportunities on offense. Patty Villa hit a solohome run in the fourth inning to tie the game at three.

But Louisville’s offense got hot in the fifth inning and Hornets’ headcoach Kathy Strahan was forced to pull Deatherage and insert sophomorepitcher Gina Steenburgen. “Pitching is the backbone of the team,” Strahan said. “We are justletting these games get out of control.”

The Hornets had trouble putting a rally together against a toughLouisville team.”We are a young team with no senior leadership,” Strahan said. “We arejust playing giveaway right now.”

Candi Padilla led the charge for Louisville, getting four hits and threeRBI.

Strahan hopes the team can keep a positive attitude through the toughlosses.”I hope the next game is a turning point for our team,” she said.

In fact it was, if only for a short time, as the Hornets defeatedMorehead State later in the day.