The Sacramento State softball team wrapped-up its four-game series with the Loyola Marymount Lions Sunday. Sac State went 2-0 in the double-header Sunday and took three of four from the Lions over the weekend.

Sunday was Senior Day at Shea Stadium as both teams honored their respected seniors with a ceremony before the double-header started.

“I was trying not to cry but that didn’t work out too well. It is hard to see it go,” catcher Jamie Schloredt said.

The Hornets have five seniors on the 2009 roster.

“They have been incredible. They are a great group. They were a part of the conference championship. I’ve just adored them. They are great model student-athletes who have represented Sacramento State extremely well,” Head Coach Kathy Strahan said.

Due to PCSC regulations Loyola Marymount was the designated home team in both games Sunday.

Both teams’ starting pitcher found their stuff early as the two squads had a combined five hits in the first two innings. The action picked up in the third.

The Lions struck first. With one out and a runner on second, Loyola Marymount third baseman Sam Fischer took Megan Schaefer’s pitch deep into right field for the home run and an early 2-0 lead.

The Hornets answered back in the fourth. First baseman Alyssa Nakken tied the game with a two-run home run of her own over the left field wall to tie the game.

Schaefer quieted the Lions’ offense beginning in the fourth inning as she got out seven-straight batters. Sacramento State opened the floodgates in the sixth inning.

Left fielder Izmena Cabrera began the hit-streak with her second home run of the season to break the tie.

“I did not have such a good weekend at Portland State. I was just going up there with the mentality that I was going to get a hit with every at-bat,” Cabrera said.

Second baseman Whitney Loomis executed the perfect bunt and third baseman Rachel Miles walked when right fielder Jenice Bartee came to the plate. On the first pitch Bartee hit the ball deep into left field. None of Loyola Marymount’s outfielders were able to recover the ball in time, as Bartee was able to score from first for the three-run inside-the-park home run to take a 7-2 lead.

Sac State added two more runs in the seventh to increase the lead to 9-2. Schaefer’s defense helped her out in the bottom of the seventh as she managed to get three pop flies in a row to end the game.

The Hornets had a tougher time in the nightcap of the double-header. The game started much like the first. Both starting pitchers were in command on the mound. Sacramento State struck first.

Miles hit a bunt-single and Bartee hit a double to begin the inning. After the Lions intentionally walked Schloredt, Cabrera and Nakken singled to give Sac State the lead. Center fielder Alicia Noriega hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning, but still managed to make the score 3-0.

The Lions answered back in the bottom of the third inning. Loyola Marymount batted through the line-up. Schaefer took over for starting pitcher Shelby Voelz after 2½ innings. She managed to get out of the inning but the Hornets were down 4-3.

Loomis got Sacramento State back in the game quickly with a leadoff double in the fourth. With two outs Bartee brought in Loomis to tie the game 4-4.

Schaeffer stepped up in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and two out Schaefer struck out shortstop Megan Ackerman to get out of the top of the fourth inning still tied 4-4.

With one out in the sixth inning Noriega hit the ball deep into right field. J.J. Hartung could not get to the ball in time as Noriega raced to third for the leadoff triple.

Two pitches later Miles doubled to center field to bring home Noriega. Sac State took a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the sixth.

Schaefer’s hot-streak on the mound continued as she got out six of the final seven Loyola Marymount batters to end the game.

“This is a team we have a big rivalry with. It felt great to beat them today,” Miles said. Miles went four of seven with 2 runs batted in on the day.

Schaefer (13-7) went 2-0 on the day. On 11 2/3 innings of work she gave up eight hits, two runs and had four strikeouts. Schloredt went three of six on the day.

“I had a lot of people come today. I wasn’t putting too much pressure on myself today but I did want to do well for them,” Schloredt said.

Thanks to the sweep on Saturday the Hornets are still in the hunt to win the PCSC regular season title. They must win their final three games to do so.

“A lot of things are out of our control. We just have to take a look at Saint Mary’s for Wednesday and we will go from there,” Strahan said.

Sac State (9-6, 23-23) will host the Saint Mary’s Gaels (7-8, 22-26) Wednesday at 3:30 pm in the final home game of the regular season.

Andrew Hazard can be reached at [email protected]