In stark contrast to Friday’s Pacific Coast Softball Conference doubleheader in which Sacramento State and Santa Clara combined to score 16 runs Saturday’s set of games was much more tame.

Santa Clara pulled out a 1-0 win in game one despite a fine outing from Hornets pitcher Jennifer Fryou before dropping the nightcap 4-0 on the strength of Lindy Winkler’s three RBIs.

Game one was a brisk, hour and a half affair as Fryou and Broncos pitcher Liz Courter matched each other pitch for pitch combining to allow one base hit and three walks in the first five innings.

Shannon Linerud led off the sixth inning for Santa Clara (15-26, 4-4) by lining the first pitch she saw into centerfield to break up Fryou’s no-hitter bid. Jessica Clee followed with a double to straightaway centerfield to drive in Linerud for the only run of the ballgame. The hits for Linerud and Clee were the only ones Fryou gave up.

“I knew about the no-hitter but tried not to think about it,” Fryou said. “But it wouldn’t have mattered anyway if we couldn’t score any runs.”

Linerud appeared to leave second base early on the pitch Clee hit prompting Hornets assistant head coach Cara Hoyt run out and have a lengthy talk with umpire Frank Moreno. Had Moreno ruled that Linerud left before Fryou released the ball she would have been automatically out nullifying the run. However, Hoyt’s appeal was unsuccessful in changing the call and the run stood.

The Hornets (23-16, 4-4) only mustered one hit themselves ?” a double down the left field line by freshman catcher Jamie Schloredt to open the fourth inning. Twice the Hornets had a go-ahead run on second base with no outs and stranded them. Their other scoring chance came in the top of the sixth inning when Winkler walked and Tompkins reached on an error by Jenny Brown at second base. With no one out once again the Hornets failed to advance a runner as Schloredt struck out on three pitches, Nikki Cinque lined out to Linerud and Teri Ann Caoagan struck out.

The game ended on another disputed call as Whitney Loomis grounded out to first base but assistant coach Lori Meixner ?” who was five feet from the play ?” argued that a bobble by Santa Clara’s Valerie Mock caused her to temporarily step off the base. As the Broncos all left the field thinking the game was over, Loomis refused to leave the base until the appeal ?” again to Moreno ?” was heard. All three umpires convened on the infield but quickly ruled that the play would stand, ending the game.

Courter got her second win in as many days pitching a one-hit gem. She allowed just three walks and struck out seven in seven innings. Fryou (1-1) was equally as impressive as the junior struck out three and gave up three walks.

Courter was back as the starter in game two but the Hornets’ bats were ready as Rachel Miles and Winkler each hit home runs and Winkler drove in three runs in the nightcap.

Miles led off the second inning with her first career home run ?” a high, sailing shot to left field. Miles became the fourth Hornet this season to hit her first career home run.

“It felt good to finally get one,” Miles said. “I had to tell myself to slow down and get into the home run trot.”

Winkler drove in the final three runs of the game with a deep homer to right field in the fourth inning and a two-RBI single to centerfield in the sixth to score Caoagan and Loomis.

Hornets freshman Cassie Cervantes (10-4) picked up the win and remained undefeated in the PCSC with a 4-0 mark and also sports a 0.78 ERA against conference competition. On Sunday she struck out eight batters while also walking eight. Courter (7-11) took the loss after pitching one and two-hit gems on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

The Hornets (23-16, 4-4) will play a non-conference doubleheader at UC Davis at 2 p.m. on Wednesday before traveling to San Diego ?” second place in the PCSC ?” for what figures to be the most pivotal series of the season next Saturday and Sunday.

“We have to take care of our own business (in San Diego and at St. Mary’s) and take care of Portland State when they’re up here (in the last series of the season),” Hornets coach Kathy Strahan said.