Sacramento State softball freshman Alexis Martinez suffered a leg injury on Feb. 22 during a defensive drill in the outfield. Martinez collided with sophomore outfielder Nicole Clark, and immediately Martinez started screaming in pain. 

Clark said everything happened so fast that there was no time to avoid the collision when she started calling for the ball. 

“I was freaking out when I saw her on the ground screaming in pain,” Clark said. “It made me sick to my stomach.” 

Martinez said that according to her doctors, she tore her ACL, MCL and dislocated her patella. Because of the severity of the injury, Martinez will be out for the rest of the season and most of next fall. 

As the Hornets’ designated hitter this season, Martinez was hitting .294 with a home run and three RBIs in eight games this season. 

Sac State head coach Kathy Strahan said it is going to take some time to fill and produce in the spot that Martinez left with her injury.

“It has been a huge challenge to replace her in the lineup because she is a natural hitter and there are not too many players like that,” Strahan said.

In the five games since the collision, three Hornets have been slotted as designated hitter in the lineup: senior Molly Smith, sophomore Riley Price and walk-on freshman Makenzie Wayadande. 

The three hitters have combined to hit .18, including four strikeouts and zero RBIs. Wayadande was the only player to collect two hits with both coming in the last game against Santa Clara University. 

“It’s too early to say if Mackenzie is the right fit,” Strahan said. “We don’t really know yet.”  

Martinez is optimistic about the upcoming surgery on March 27 and to get back onto the field next season. She has been rehabbing in the training room since her collision. She receives treatment to reduce swelling in her knee from machines called Game Ready and Norma Tec.

“(Alexis) has been really positive about the injury and rehabbing her knee. She has not let her knee set her back farther than she is now,” Clark said.  

Strahan said the team is really disappointed with the type of injury Martinez received.

“It sucks not to have her on the field with us because we are so close this year,” Clark said. “We are putting everything we have toward a great season not only for us, but for (Alexis) as well.”

Clifton can be reached on Twitter at jonesSHsports