The disappointing Hornets softball season continued last weekend as the team played host for the annual Capitol Classic tournament. The home field advantage didn’t help the Hornets as they fell victim to four of the five teams they played.

The Hornets began the season as favorites to win their conference, the Pacific Coast. It will definitely be difficult for the Hornets to accomplish this, but they have not given up hope.

“I’m disappointed,” said Hornets coach Kathy Strahan. “We got to get people healthy.”

Injuries have definitely been the story of this season so far. Catcher Jaime Schloredt and pitcher Cassie Cervantes are among the key players who have been out of action for Sacramento State.

“We’re staying positive and focused,” Strahan said. “We got a ways to go, and we’re not going down.”

On Friday, sac State played BYU (13-10) and lost a close one 5-4. Hornets outfielder Hilary Johnson went three for three with two hits, and Kayla Meeks picked up the loss as she allowed five runs and six hits in eight innings.

Later on in the day, the Hornets fell to Iowa State 6-3. In that game, the Hornets committed five errors, and Iowa kept hitting off pitcher Michele Bochenski, who fell to 1-3 for the season.

On Saturday, the sun was out and shining beautifully and the Hornets won one of the two games they played that day.

The first game saw the Hornets getting their first and only win of the tournament against Idaho State.

The Hornets offense was on as it earned eight runs and 10 hits. Johnson stepped up her game for the Hornets as she continued her strong hitting performance with two hits. Johnson has been hitting over .600 over the past three games.

“Our energy was good,” Meeks said.

Meeks went 2-4 with four RBIs. Freshman Andrea Sherrill hit her first career home run, and putting the Hornets on the board first. Later on Saturday, the Hornets fell to Pittsburgh 4-1.

The Hornets, already depleted from injuries, ran out of gas as Pitt stole six bases and took advantage of pitcher Bochenski, whose record fell to 2-4. She allowed four runs and eight hits in eight innings.

First baseman Amy Jo McKenzie got a hit, extended her hitting streak to six games.

Early Sunday, the Hornets wrapped up their tournament play with a loss to Illinois 18-3. Illinois’ offense was dominant scoring 16 runs in the first inning alone, the most runs the Hornets have ever allowed in one inning of play. Illinois’ leadoff hitters went 3-3 with two home runs in just first inning.

Due to the “Mercy Rule,” the game was called after the fifth inning due to the large led. Hornet pitcher Brittani Clifford picked up the loss and McKenzie got a hit to extend her streak to seven games.

Illinois went undefeated in the tourney, and with the win over the Hornets, Illinois was crowned the winners of the Classic. The Hornets record in the Classic was 1-4 and their overall record is now 6-18, their worst stretch after 24 games since they joined Division I in 1990. Lamont Weaver can be reached at [email protected]