Softball bats come alive in wins against CSU Bakersfield and UC Riverside

State Hornet Staff

The bats of Sacramento State softball came alive Saturday as the Hornets swept the second day of the Fresno State Kickoff in Fresno, Calif.

Sac State rolled over CSU Bakersfield and UC Riverside, outscoring both teams 20-7.

With the two wins today, Sac State improves to a record of 2-3 on the season. Senior catcher Paris Prado led the charge for the Hornets going 4-for-7, with two RBIs and scoring four times two games.

Head coach Lori Perez said it was well deserved of the early success of Prado in the first five games of this season.

“Paris is our spark plug, she lifts everyone up on the team in how she acts and plays,” Perez said.

The Hornets, who only scored three runs in two games on Friday, scored five runs in the top of the second inning against Bakersfield. Five consecutive Hornet batters reached base in the second inning before there was an out made.

The Roadrunners would answer back with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the third  inning bringing the score to 6-3 Sac State.

Sophomore pitcher Jennifer Hartman went four innings allowing three runs on five hits. Sophomore Kaitlyn Yerby made her first pitching appearance of the season and earned the three-inning save. Yerby allowed three runs to cross on seven hits and walking only one batter.

Sac State went on to win the game 11-6. Perez said it was good to see the offense producing the way it did Saturday.

“We had some things come together for us today, unlike yesterday,” Perez said. “We strung together hits to produce the runs and take advantage of the other teams’ mistakes on the field.”

In the second game, Sac State was up 8-0 before UC Riverside scored its first run in the fifth inning. The Hornets beat the Highlanders 9-1 in five innings, Prado went 2-3 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs.

Senior Taylor Stroud made her second start of the season, earning a win and finishing the five inning affair by giving up only one run on five hits while walking one batter.

Although Prado was a big producer today for her team, she said it is not about what she did more than what her team did as a whole today.

“Its great playing so well,” Prado said. “But its even better to have the team gelling together right now.”

Sac State will finish up the Fresno State Kickoff tournament against UC Riverside at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, as it will look to improve to .500.