The Sacramento State softball team lost both games of a doubleheader against Idaho State on Friday, losing by finals of 7-4 and 5-3.

The first game saw the Hornets (22-17) start strong, scoring two runs in the first inning. Second baseman Zamari Hinton hit a out-out triple and scored on a Bengal error, and third baseman Kailey Olcott drove in another via an RBI single.

Sac State added runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Center fielder Shelby Johnston hit a double and scored on Hinton’s RBI single in the fourth, and first baseman Jessica Ravetti hit a leadoff single and scored off a double by left fielder Kayla Papez in the fifth.

Starting pitcher Celina Matthias continued her scoreless streak for the first five innings, dancing in and out of trouble but bringing it to 34 straight scoreless innings. Idaho State would tag her for two runs in the bottom of the sixth, however, closing the gap to 4-2 heading into the seventh.

The bottom of the seventh saw Matthias get just one out. A leadoff walk followed by a single put the tying run on base, but she induced a popup to get the first out. A ground ball to Olcott that should have gotten an out instead resulted in an errant throw that allowed a run to score and put the winning run in scoring position. A single scored the runner from third to tie the game, and the next batter hit a walk-off, three-run home run to right field to snap the Hornets’ seven-game win streak.

The second game featured both teams trading runs in the first few innings. Sac State got back-to-back walks in the first, followed by a ground ball to the pitcher. Idaho State forced the runner out at third, but an error by the third baseman put runners at second and third with two out. An illegal pitch by the Bengal starter plated a run and gave the Hornets a 1-0 lead.

Idaho answered back with two runs of their own in the first. Hornet pitcher Kaitlyn Yerby started the game for the Hornets and got the first two outs of the game before a single and a home run put Idaho State up 2-0 after one.

Catcher Kortney Solis worked a leadoff walk in the second, followed by the next batter reaching base with help via another Bengal error. A sacrifice bunt put the runners in scoring position, and right fielder Natalie Alas hit an RBI single to left field to knot the score at 2.

That tie wouldn’t last long, as a leadoff double later followed by an RBI groundout gave Idaho State the lead again; however, designated player Sasha Margulies smacked a leadoff home run in the top of the third to tie it back up at 3-3.

Again, Idaho State answered back. A one-out single put the winning run on base, and it would come around to score on a wild pitch with two outs. The next batter came up with the bases empty and hit a solo shot to knock Yerby out of the game.

Pitcher Savanna Corr came on in relief and give up two quick singles but escaped the inning and didn’t allow another baserunner the rest of the way, except for a fifth inning hit-by-pitch.

Sac State didn’t go quietly, getting two runners on with one out in the sixth but couldn’t convert it. The seventh also saw the Hornets get the tying run on first but ended the game with a strikeout.

Even with both losses, Sac State remains in first place a half game up in the Big Sky. The Hornets will finish their three-game set tomorrow at noon against Idaho State (21-19).