Pitching led the way for Sacramento State’s softball team as it won four of the first five games over the weekend and is now calling themselves Fresno State Kickoff champions.

The pitching trio of freshman Caitlin Brooks, sophomore Taylor Stroud and senior Shelby Voelz gave up only six runs and pitched two shutouts in its first tournament of the season.

Stroud led the pitchers with three wins and gave up only one earned run in 19 innings the entire weekend.

“These wins boosted our confidence,” Stroud said. “It is showing us our potential.”

After losing the first game to CSU Long Beach, the Hornets came back to blank UC Riverside, 2-0. Stroud pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only five hits and striking out four.

“I learned a lot from my coaches and teammates this last year, so I was prepared this time,” Stroud said.

Stroud said she also gives credit to a book that was assigned to the team called “Mind Gym,” which helps athletes with the mental aspect of the game.

With a split of the first two games on Friday, Sac State faced Fresno State, which finished last season 35-19 and second in the Western Athletic Conference.

Sac State head coach Kathy Strahan said it was good to see a quality opponent like Fresno State.

“It was an exciting win for the program,” Strahan said. “They showed me a lot of toughness.”

Brooks started the game, pitching three innings and giving up only one hit. Strahan said she wanted to limit her throws because of past injuries.

Brooks allowed only two runs in 9 2/3 innings during the tournament while striking out eight and walking four.

“She’s a tough cookie and she’s played hurt in the past,” Strahan said. “We don’t want that.”

In the final day, the Hornets showed their offense could also produce. After a 1-0 shutout of North Dakota State in the first game, Sac State won the second game of the day defeating UC Riverside for the second time in three days by a score of 9-4, becoming tournament champions.

Freshman third baseman Riley Price finished the final game with a grand slam.

Sac State will travel to San Jose State University Feb. 22 and Strahan looks to improve on her team’s success.

Ryan Kuhn can be reached at @rskuhn