The Sacramento State softball team competed in the Fresno State Kickoff Tournament in Fresno, Saturday and Sunday against host Fresno State and University of the Pacific.

Competition began on Saturday with the Hornets playing against top-25 Fresno State. The Bulldogs came into the game having just beat UOP 1-0. Sac State came into the match up looking to live up to their number one ranking in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference preseason poll.

Pitcher Megan Schaeffer got the start for the Hornets. Schaeffer went up against Fresno State starter Michelle Moses.

Sac State struck first in the fourth inning putting up two runs to chase Moses from the game. Moses went two and two thirds innings, giving up two hits, two runs, and striking out seven Hornets.

The two runs for Hornets came off of a single by Desiree Beltran, scoring Alyssa Nakken from second base and an Erin Jones double to left field scoring pinch runner Lauren Blair from first base. Fresno State then brought in sophomore Mackenzie Oakes to replace Moses. Oakes was able to stop the bleeding by getting freshmen Molly Smith to ground out to third base for the Hornets.

However those would be the only two runs scored by the Hornets in the game. Fresno State got the win 3-2. Oakes was awarded with the win and the loss went to Hornet reliever Shelby Voelz. The win improved Fresno States record to 4-0 as the Hornets dropped their first game of the season.

Sacramento State would rebound in their second game of the day against UOP.

Jacquelyn Serrano got the start for the Hornets against the Tigers, who countered with sophomore Gabby McDaniel.

Nicole Fryan got the Hornets onto the scoreboard early in the second inning coming home on a fielding error by shortstop Nicole Matson, allowing Hornet batter Nakken to advance all the way to third base.

The Hornets would bring in five more runs, one run in the fourth and four runs coming in the eighth inning.The game ended with Sac State on top 6-3, improving to 1-1 on the year. UOP would drop their second straight game of the day, falling to 0-2.

The Hornets got a strong pitching performance from Serrano who went five and a third innings, giving up two runs on just six hits over the five and a third innings, with a walk and two strikeouts.

Voelz would get the win in relief for the Hornets, after going two and two thirds innings; giving up two hits, with one earned run, a walk and one strikeout. She improves her record to 1-1 for the year.

Day two saw for the Hornets in a familiar position, taking on Fresno State for the second time to a similar result. Oakes, who got the win in relief in the first meeting between these two teams, was nearly flawless for the Bulldogs throwing the first no-hitter of her career, striking out seven and walking three batters.

Nakken, who got the start for the Hornets, was given the loss, going four innings and giving up six hits, four earned runs, two walks, a double, and one homerun. Her record fell to 0-1 after the 6-0 loss.In the second game of day two, the Hornets would find redemption against UOP.

Schaefer led the Hornets as she earned a complete game win. The junior gave up seven hits, with only two runs allowed, one earned, a walk and striking out one batter. With the win Schaefer improves her record to 1-0.

Sac State came up with clutch hits when it counted. Going into the seventh inning, the teams were tied 1-1. Junior Lindsey Peirce scored the tie-breaking run for the Tigers off of a Schaefer wild pitch. Trailing by one in the bottom of the inning, the Hornets managed to load the bases with one out and freshmen Emily McCormick coming to the plate. McCormick hit into a fielders choice from with Jessica Abelia being cut down at the plate.

The Hornets were down to their last out when Jones stepped up in more than one way. The freshman had the bases loaded when she drove the ball into shallow left field for the game winning double. The double would score Nakken from third and Frye from second, giving the Hornets the 3-2 victory over UOP.

Sac State would improve their record to 2-2 and UOP would fall to 0-4 on the season. In the tournament, host Fresno State would take first place with four wins, Sacramento State came in second with two wins and two losses, and UOP would take third with four losses and no wins.

Sac State returns to action again on Feb. 16 when they travel to Davis to take on bitter rival UC Davis in double-header staring at 1 p.m. The double-header against Davis will count towards the Causeway Cup standings. Currently, the Hornets lead the standings with a score of 42.50 to 33.67 from the Aggies.

Matt Harrington can be reached at [email protected]