Two hours before the first pitch and some members of the Sacramento State softball team are already getting set for a grueling doubleheader.

For the Hornets, members of the Pacific Coast Softball Conference, playing in doubleheaders has become the norm.

In her 16th season as coach, Kathy Strahan will lead the Hornets into 16 doubleheaders this season.

A doubleheader consists of two regulation softball games, seven innings each or more, back-to-back with a half hour break between games.

“We’re talking about a seven-hour day just for a regular softball competition,” Strahan said.

The team will play in a doubleheader each day it competes in a conference series.

A conference series has four games, meaning the Hornets will play a doubleheader on consecutive days.

When comparing doubleheaders to the traditional single-game format, time isn’t the only difference.

More players will see action during the game and having depth on the roster is beneficial.

“This year we are thin at the middle infield positions, so I worry about the longevity of Amy Tompkins and Whitney Loomis,” Strahan said.

The Hornets have a deep pitching staff, allowing Strahan to be flexible with playing time at that position.

“With four pitchers on the squad, it really gives me an opportunity to get them the playing time they need to either develop or fine tune,” Strahan said.

Depth, while beneficial, can also put stress on a coach.

Having 19 players on this year’s softball roster means multiple players could be competing for playing time at the same position.

This places stress on Strahan, who ultimately determines the amount of playing time each player gets.

“I carry more players than I’d prefer to and the challenge before me is to give them a good experience,” Strahan said.

It’s a delicate balance between trying to win a conference championship and getting players a good experience, Strahan said.

Megan Schaefer, a freshman pitcher, is ready to embark on her first season as a Hornet.

Already having competed in the American Softball Association’s summer league, which shares a similar doubleheader format, Schaefer said she’s ready.

“I think I will like it; if it’s like summer ball, then I will,” Schaefer said.

Not only does playing four games in two days put a strain on a person physically, it also strains a person mentally as well.

“I will have to learn from my mistakes?mentally I know if I do my part, the defense will do theirs,” Schaefer said.

Playing against the same team multiple times can become tiresome, but for senior Teri Ann Caoagan, she welcomes the challenge.

While in a doubleheader Caoagan sees the batter as being the beneficiary of playing multiple games against the same team.

“Seeing the pitcher more often lets the batter get accustomed to the pitcher,” Caoagan said. “If you’re doing well, you can carry it over to the next game.”

Whether it be a single game or a doubleheader, the Hornets treat all the games similarly.

“We have the same competitive edge for all our games,” Caoagan said.

Softball, along with baseball, are the two sole sports that take part in multiple conference games in the same day.

The Hornets baseball team will compete in 10 doubleheaders this season, playing in the Western Athletic Conference.

“I’d venture to say that on a doubleheader game day, a softball player puts in more time than any student-athlete in any other inter-collegiate sport, except for a baseball player in the similar situation,” Strahan said.

With the NCAA restricting the way in which competitions are counted, the PCSC will soon move to a three game series format.

Jose Martinez can be reached at [email protected]