The Sacramento State Hornet softball team ran into a road block this weekend. Well, actually, three roadblocks.

Softball coach Kathy Strahan led the Hornets into the Bulldog Classic Tournament, hosted by Fresno State.

Entering the tournament the Hornets had a 9-6 record; after the two-day affair the Hornets would add only one win to their record in comparison to three losses.

Strahan knew it would be a tough stretch of games for the Hornets, as they faced three teams ranked in the NCAA’s top 25.

“With three ranked teams ? this was going to be one of the most difficult stretches of the season,” Strahan said.

In the opening round of tournament play the Hornets took on a University Rhode Island team that could possibly have showed a little bit of jet lag. But the game would only last five innings and end via the run rule in favor of the green and gold, 13-1.

Hornets starting pitcher Kayla Meeks went the distance and recorded her fifth win of the season. Meeks allowed her only run of the game in the top of the fourth inning, when the game was already in hand.

Senior Amy Tompkins had a perfect opening round game, going 3-for-3 at the plate and driving in four runs. Hilary Johnson, the teams centerfielder, was also perfect at the plate accounting for two hits and two runs scored.

Stacey Stanovich, starting pitcher for Rhode Island, only lasted three innings, and gave up nine hits, eight runs and walked three. Mary-Beth Ball came in for relief but wasn’t able to contain the Hornets, giving up five runs in only one inning of work.

Host team Fresno State jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the Hornets’ second game of the tournament. This proved to be detrimental as the No. 23 ranked Bulldogs kept Sac State at-bay, never relinquishing their lead.

Brittani Clifford took the 4-2 loss for the Hornets, as she pitched the complete game. Clifford allowed all four runs on only four hits while striking out three.

Catcher Jamie Schloredt provided the only extra base hit for the Hornets, a double, while going 2-for-3 at the plate.

“We got to put all three aspects of the game: pitching, hitting and defense together to beat teams,” Strahan said.

With the win the Bulldogs improved their record to 19-3.

Starting the second day of the tournament proved to be no easy task for the Hornets, as they would take on yet another ranked team. Sixteenth ranked DePaul University would nab another win from the Hornets, 7-4.

The Blue Demons did all of their damage against the Hornets in the first three innings of play. Clifford took the loss, allowing seven runs on six hits in only two and a third innings of work.

Teri Ann Caoagan provided a bright spot at the plate for the Hornets, hitting a home run that drove in two.

“We need to learn how to plug in another piece of our game when necessary,” Strahan said.

The last game of the tournament was a tough pill to swallow for the Hornets as they stood tall against the highest-ranked team in the tournament, No. 14 Houston.

Sac State went blow-for-blow against the Cougars, giving up the go-ahead runs in the top of the sixth inning and losing 3-1.

“It helps hone our skills,” Strahan said. “We were only one swing of the bat from taking the lead in all of our losses.”

Starting for the Cougars in the circle was Barbie Love, who pitched seven innings of three-hit ball en route to her sixth win of the season.

Hornet ace Meeks took the ball for the Hornets but was tagged for six hits and walked three, taking the loss.

Coming out of the tournament with only one win isn’t all bad for the Hornets.

“It was a great experience, with three ranked teams ? we were able to compete with good teams,” Strahan said.

Strahan believes the Hornets will use the tournament as a learning experience.

“The losses didn’t shake our confidence,” Strahan said. “We felt good coming away from the tournament.”

Jose Martinez can be reached at [email protected]