After dropping a doubleheader against the third-ranked Stanford Cardinal at home last Wednesday, allowing 14 runs on 17 hits, the bottom just fell out for the Sac State Hornets during the season-ending Big West conference series with the Long Beach State 49ers this past weekend.

The Hornets, who ended the season on a six-game slide, were outscored by the 49ers 17-4, including 13-2 during Saturday?s doubleheader. With the three-game sweep the 49ers improved their mark to 24-29 overall, and 12-9 in the Big West. The Hornets, on the other hand, posted program lows this season, winding up just 17-37 overall and 5-16.

“It was a disappointing season overall,” said Hornet head coach Kathy Strahan. “We wanted to do better. We were hoping the eight juniors on the field would play over the youth on the mound, but it didn?t happen.”

Just as errors spoiled any Hornets chance at stealing a win against the Cardinal last Wednesday, errors again factored into the 49ers 4-1 opening game win. Of the four runs Long Beach was credited with, two were unearned.

“A lot of what we are doing is mental mistakes,” Strahan said. “We?re making a lot of mistakes…Cut-offs aren?t where they should be, or missed signals.”

With the bases loaded in the first inning, Hornet shortstop Andrea Becker fielded a grounder and threw home errantly, allowing both Christina Zepeda and Jaclyn Fredrickson to score. Jamie Farnsworth completed the three-run first inning with a run-scoring single. Yolanda Estrada, a Sacramento native, plated the Hornets only run of the game when she scored on an error.

Jillian Bivert (6-14), who worked just the first inning, picked up the loss. She gave up three runs, one hit and three walks in one inning. Steenburgen worked the final five inning for the Hornets, giving up one run on five hits, while posting a career high six strikeouts.

“She (Steenburgen) got people to hit the ball on the ground,” said Strahan of her sophomore hurler, who has pitched nearly this entire season with a stress fracture in her leg. “She did exactly what we wanted her to do.”

During Saturday?s nightcap, there was still little the Hornets could do to keep the 49ers offense away from the base paths and off the scoreboard. Long Beach enforced the eight-run rule, 9-1, ending the game in just five innings.

The 49ers hit parade was led by Darcey Brown, who connected on two-run doubles in both the first and second innings, and Kristina McCarty, who laced a three-run double in the second as well. Both Brown and McCarty finished the day 2-3 for the 49ers, combining for three doubles and seven RBI?s.

Despite their offensive prowess, Strahan wasn?t overly impressed with the 2000-01 version of the 49ers.

“This was one of the worst Long Beach State teams I?ve seen in a decade,” Strahan said. “They?re struggling.”

Freshman starter Nicole Deatherage, who pitched masterfully for the Hornets in their 3-2 loss vs. Stanford, tallied Sac State?s only run, scoring on an Amber Dragomir single. However, just as the 49ers chased Bivert in the opener, Deatherage lasted just inning as well, giving up eight runs on six hits.

“It?s tough for a freshman at the Division I level,” said Strahan of the journey her freshman has endured on the mound. “She?ll come back next year and have a heck of a career at Sac State.”

Sac State gave themselves a chance to win on Sunday, maintaining a 2-0 lead for the majority of the game. But, a sixth inning two out, two-run single by Long Beach?s Preece proved to be too much .

“That was a big hit,” Strahan said.

The Hornets had the tying runs on base in the seventh inning, but Arlette Sunseri grounded out to end the threat. Bivert picked up her second loss of the series, pitching five innings, while allowing four runs on eight hits.

Sac State took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, when Bivert?s double sent Dragomir racing home. Bivert finished the three-game series a combined 5-7, with a pair of doubles. The Hornets tacked on a second run in the sixth inning, when successful squeeze bunt by Meghan Cunningham allowed Roni Rodrigues to score.