It was night and day difference between the two games for Sacramento State softball at the Capital Classic today.

Sac State lost an ugly first game to Saint Mary’s, 9-3. Three total errors were made by the Hornets’ senior third baseman Emily McCormick and freshman Alyssa Vanderdrink.

Sac State’s junior pitcher Taylor Stroud didn’t last long either in the first game, only contributing two and one third innings of work against Saint Mary’s.

The Gaels roughed up Stroud in her short outing with nine runs – seven of those runs earned – seven hits allowed with three walks and two strikeouts.

“Taylor was a little shaken up after the shelling from Saint Mary’s,” freshman pitcher Caitlin Brooks said. “The pitching staff is our own little family and we support each other.”

The worst inning Stroud had was in the second inning when she allowed five of the seven earned runs to score as the Gaels batted around.

“I didn’t really get to talk to Taylor about the first game,” head coach Kathy Strahan said. “I am sure she will be fine – she is a pretty resilient person.”

The Hornets’ only offensive production against the Gaels in the first inning was from freshman catcher Kortney Solis’s single, scoring two Sac State base runners.

“It was not so much the errors in the first game but they settled the whole game after the big second inning,” Brooks said.

Sac State did rebound after the Saint Mary’s game against Fresno State, beating the Bulldogs 3-0.

The Hornets offense woke up at the Capital Classic thanks in large part to two freshmen players: Solis and Vanderdrink.

Solis started off the fourth inning against Fresno State with her second home run of the season hitting a line-drive solo home run over the right field fence.

Solis said she was just trying to get over the right fielder’s head to get a base hit.

“I was not expecting the ball to go over the fence,” Solis said. “I was so pumped when it finally went over the fence.”

Solis finished up the day with a .400 average, one home run and three RBIs.

After a walk for sophomore right fielder Paige Martin, Vanderdrink launched a two-run home run over the left field fence. Vanderdrink’s home run is her first career home run as a Sac State Hornet.

Vanderdrink said the pitch was high and inside – right in her sweet spot to hit a solid hit.

“I was excited to finally score a run for the team and for my first home run,” Vanderdrink said. “I was yelling when it went over the fence.”

Sac State only needed the three runs for Brooks in order to win the game. Brooks was solid before the Hornets’ big fourth inning.

“It was such a relief to pitch with the lead for a change this season,” Brooks said. “My teammates really stepped up today.”

Sac State will close out the Capital Classic Sunday against University of Kansas Jayhawks at 11 a.m.

 

Clifton Jones can be reached on twitter @jonesSHsports