Sacramento State softball split its games during the last day of the Fresno State Kickoff tournament, beating UC Davis, 2-1, but losing to Fresno State, 3-2. 

After five games in Fresno, Sac State falls to 3-2 on the season. 

In the Hornets’ first game against UC Davis, sophomore pitcher Caitlin Brooks won her second game of the season, allowing one earned run, four hits, two walks and striking out seven.

“Caitlin’s rise ball and change-up were working for her,” Sac State softball head coach Kathy Strahan said. “I thought it was great how she changed up the speed with her change-up to keep the batters from UC Davis off balance the whole game.” 

Freshman designated hitter Alexis Martinez and senior third baseman Emily McCormick led Sac State by both hitting home runs today.  Martinez finished the day 3-6 with the home run, 2 RBIs and a run scored. 

“Martinez was responsible for all our runs against UC Davis scoring Frye in the first inning and hitting the home run in the fourth inning,” Strahan said. 

Strahan said she never recruited Martinez for her power. But when Martinez hit her home run, it surprised her coach, especially it came in her fifth at-bat of the season.

Sac State held the Aggie offense off the scoreboard until the seventh inning, when UC Davis scored its only run in the game.

McCormick got her bat going today, hitting two singles, 2 RBIs and a home run in the Fresno State game. McCormick was .250 entering today’s game against Fresno State, but afterward she increased her average to .312 with a home run and 4 RBIs. 

Junior pitcher Taylor Stroud had two errors charged to her in the loss against the Bulldogs. After tonight’s loss, Stroud brings her record on the season to 1-1. 

Sac State forced five errors in the game, all resulting in the three runs that crossed the plate for the Bulldogs. 

Strahan said that the team has to be smarter in making their throws and deciding where to make the outs.

“Fresno State had a couple of running slappers with Olympic-type speed and we just rushed our throws,” Strahan said.

The Hornets’ home opener is at Shea Stadium Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. against the University of Pacific.  

 

Clifton can be reached on Twitter at @JonesSHsports