Fresh off a pair of losses to Cal, the Sac State softball team rebounded to take two of three games this weekend at Utah State.

The Hornets? record now stands at 16-27 overall, and 4-8 in the Big West.

The series was capped off by a 1-0 victory on Sunday, as Jillian Bivert threw her second consecutive shutout. The sophomore hurler fanned a pair of batters and left eight runners on base in the shutout, making it two straight games and 14 straight innings in which an opponent has not crossed home plate against her. She also got two hits in three at bats.

“She is really taking the lead as our number one pitcher,” head coach Kathy Strahan said. “She leads the young pitching staff.”

The first game of the series was a 9-0 shellacking by the Hornets, paced by Patty Villa and Yolanda Estrada, who each had three hits.

The Hornet offense continued its red-hot hitting in the second game of the series, but lost in a slugfest to Utah State, 9-8. The next game was a pitcher?s duel with Bivert coming out on top. The game?s only run came on an RBI single by Veronica Rodrigues that scored Lori Meixner.

“That?s huge for us, we seem to be better on the road than at home right now, for whatever reason,” Strahan said. “Taking this series, along with taking the Santa Barbara series (April 1) is huge for us.”

One thing that didn?t help the Hornets at home was the fact that they faced the number four ranked California Bears on Wednesday, and dropped both games. The Hornets struggled, losing by a combined score of 14-2. The Bears team was a good barometer for the Hornets as they were able to play one of the best teams in the nation. It was, however, a test they did not pass.

“I wasn?t happy with the way we played defense,” Kathy Strahan said. “But they (Cal) have the best offense, defense, and pitching.”

The Hornets intentionally walked first baseman Veronica Nelson nine times in the two games, showing the respect the Hornets had for her as an offensive weapon.

“She?s incredible,” Strahan said. “We knew she could do some real damage.”

Hornet pitching was shredded in the two games against California as Nicole Deatherage gave up six earned runs in seven innings, while Bivert allowed four runs in seven innings.The Bears pitching kept the Hornets guessing as Hornet batters were a combined nine for 51 from the plate.

The Hornets will play three games at the University of Pacific this weekend.

“UOP is very good and Bivert will start the series,” Strahan said. “We will see what happens.”