After getting rained-out on Friday, the Sacramento State softball team hosted the Saint Mary’s Gaels in a three-game set Saturday. Sac State won two of the three games, 4-2, 4-6, 4-0.

Due to Friday’s rain out, the Hornets were the designated road team for the first two games.

“It is much more difficult to play three games instead of two. It is a lot of time and you get tired. You have to stay energized the entire time,” pitcher Megan Schaefer said. Sacramento State started strong in the first inning. Third baseman Rachel Miles hit a leadoff double into left-center field. With one out and Miles now on third base, shortstop Desiree Beltran hit into a fielder’s choice, which allowed miles to score.

The Gaels came back in the bottom of the third inning. Schaefer gave up back-to-back singles to begin the inning. A throwing error and a fly out to right field by Michelle Mounts allowed Saint Mary’s to tie the game 2-2.

The game would not be tied for long. With two outs and a runner on third base Beltran stepped to the plate. Beltran hit her fourth home run of the season to give Sac State a 4-2 lead.

Schaefer settled down and only gave up three hits the rest of the game to lead the Hornets to victory.

Sacramento State held the upper hand again early in game two. Left fielder Izmena Cabrera doubled to left-center to bring Whitney Loomis home from first base. Catcher Jamie Schloredt singled up the middle, allowing Cabrera to score.

“I live for those kind of moments. I want to be the person who gets the clutch hit,” Schloredt said.

Saint Mary’s started its comeback in the fourth inning. First, Lauren Clark hit an RBI-double and then with two runners on Kayla Gonzales singled up the middle to allow one more run to score.

The Gaels should have scored more runs but an amazing throw from center fielder Alicia Noriega to Schloredt resulted in an exciting play at the plate.

Schloredt got the tag on the sliding Sadie Dolcini to end the threat.

“When it comes down to the wire (I have to) make sure I am aware of everything. The fact that I am able to get outs at home and prevent a run getting on the board means a lot,” Schloredt said.

Sac State would not be cheering for long. Three errors in the infield and three hits in the sixth inning allowed Saint Mary’s to score four runs for the 6-4 lead.

“We just imploded on ourselves and committed way too many mistakes on defense. We gave-away that ballgame,” Head Coach Kathy Strahan said.

A single by Loomis was all the Hornets could muster up in the seventh inning as they lost 6-4.

Sacramento State played much better in the rubber-match of the series. Sac State scored a run in each of its first four innings.

Defensively, Schaefer had a fabulous pitching-performance. Schaefer pitched a complete-game shut out, had five strikeouts, and only gave up four hits on 85 pitches.

“Keeping the ball low and having the defense working there behind me, just getting the ground balls and having a play for the out was the key today,” Schaefer said.

Miles scored two runs and had a run batted in during the third game. The loudest hit of the game came off the bat off Schloredt.

On a two-two pitch Schloredt hit a line drive straight over the center field wall for her third home run of the game.

“I am myself again. I don’t know what my deal was before but I was having some issues,” Schloredt said.

Even though her team won two of three games, Strahan still sees some aspects of the game her team could improve.

“I am happy we got two out of three but I am disappointed we lost game two. We could very easily be sitting here 7-0 in conference,” Strahan said.

We gave away the first game to San Diego. We gave away today’s second game to Saint Mary’s.

“One of the things this team needs to do a better job at is get a killer-instinct when we have a lead,” Strahan said.

Schaefer (10-4) went 2-0 on the day. Besides her three home runs, Schloredt went four of six, scored three runs and had scored three runs.

Sacramento State (5-2, 19-19) will travel to Portland to take on Portland State (6-2, 21-15) in a four-game series beginning on April 18 at noon.

“We have collapsed two too many times and those games could possibly come back and hurt us,” Strahan said.

Andrew Hazard can be reached at [email protected]