Sacramento State softball couldn’t stand up to the power San Jose State’s lineup as   the Spartans scored eight runs in the first inning.

Hornets’ freshman pitcher Jennifer Hartman lasted only a third of an inning as the Spartan offense shelled her for five runs on two hits and two walks in the 8-2 loss in San Jose.

“Today was a pretty tough loss for our team,” said freshman Kayla Papez. “It was not a good game at all for us.”

Junior pitcher Taylor Stroud came into the game after Hartman was taken out, but allowed three runs to score on six hits and struck out three in 5.2 innings. 

“Jennifer didn’t really have her game today with all the hits and walks,” Strahan said. “I knew I had to get Taylor in there because she has been waiting for her chance.” 

The runs Stroud allowed in the game came only in the first inning when she relieved Hartman.

“I was just trying my best to give my team a chance to make outs,” Stroud. “I knew if I was able to do that my team would have my back.” 

Sac State softball head coach Kathy Strahan said she was really impressed in the way Stroud was able to come into the game in relief and give the team some stability. 

“Taylor was able to keep the batters off balance after the five runs scored in the first inning,” Strahan said. “Her pitches were slicing and dicing the Spartans batters.”

With the big deficit, Strahan was also able to bring in the reserves on the bench to get some more playing time this season.

“In the first two innings we were flat,” Papez said. “After we made the switches, there was some energy.” 

The Hornets were not able to bounce back fully after the big first inning for San Jose State, but were able to score a couple runs in the top of the fourth inning driven in by sophomore third baseman Nicole Schultz. 

The Hornets will take on the San Jose Spartans again, but this time at Shea Stadium. 

First pitch is at 2:30 p.m.

Clifton can be reached on Twitter at @jonesSHsports