Sacramento State softball started off its season with a win as it beat the University of Texas El Paso 3-2 today, during the first day of the Fresno State Kickoff tournament. 

Senior center fielder Kelli Frye and junior shortstop Yesenia Alcala were the entire offense for the Hornets, while sophomore pitcher Caitlin Brooks provided some defense.

Frye ignited the spark for the Hornets during the first at bat when she hit a triple to start the game. She finished 3-4 with a triple and a run scored.  

Hornets’ head coach Kathy Strahan said she is proud of her senior center fielder Frye for leading her team by example, especially in her first at bat.

“It was good to see her start the season the way she did. Being a senior, she wants to lead by example” Strahan said. 

Senior third baseman Emily McCormick’s only hit came in the first inning, giving her first RBI when Frye came in to score the first run.

Sac State held the Miners off the scoreboard until the fifth inning, when an error was charged to freshman Kayla Papez. UTEP then hit a double to score their only two runs of the game. However, Brooks quieted the Miners’ offense for the rest of the game.  

In the fourth inning, Alcala contributed her first double of the season driving in sophomore Paige Martin and freshman Kayla Papez to give a 3-0 lead.

On the mound, Brooks pitched her first complete game of the season, allowing three walks, nine strikeouts, seven hits and two unearned runs. 

“Caitlin gave us a great launch into the weekend and hopefully we can ride this all the way through,” Strahan said. “She took control of the game in the seventh inning. There was no one stopping her winning tonight.”

The Hornets start again Saturday morning at the Fresno State Kickoff with a double header against Southern Mississippi University at 9 a.m. and UC Riverside 11:15 a.m.

Clifton can be reached on Twitter at @JonesSHsports