SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Sacramento State split a pair of games on the first day of the Silicon Valley Softball Classic - an 8-0 mercy rule victory over Santa Clara (six innings), and an 8-2 loss to Utah State.

The Hornets (4-7 overall) are playing five games during the three-day tournament, which includes two more contests tomorrow, and one on Sunday. On Saturday, Sacramento State will play at Santa Clara again at 10 a.m., followed by a matchup with Cal Poly on San Jose State's home field at 3 p.m.

Some highlights from today included junior Marissa Bertuccio continuing her impressive season with a three-hit shutout of Santa Clara. The right-hander allowed just three hits (two singles) while walking two and striking out five over six innings. She needed just 92 pitches to complete the shutout, faced six batters over the minimum, and lowered her season ERA to 1.52.

Two Hornets hit bombs - Lewa Day homered to lead off the Utah State game, and Caroline Evans hit a three-run shot to give the Hornets an 8-0 lead in the sixth inning of the Santa Clara win. Evans continues to mash in a limited offensive role, as the true freshman now has five hits in 12 at-bats, including a double, two home runs and five RBIs.

Offensively, three Hornets finished the day with three hits, comprised of Amber Rodriguez, Carley Morfey and Alondra Mejia. Rodriguez, who did not play against Utah State, went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI vs. the Broncos. Day, Morfey and Mejia were the Sacramento State players with hits in both games. Lexie Webb, who had a hit in the first game against Utah State, had her hitting streak snapped at nine games after going 0-for-4 vs. Santa Clara.

In that Santa Clara victory, the Hornets and Broncos were scoreless through five innings, before Sacramento State scored eight times in the sixth inning. That frame includes six hits and two Santa Clara errors. The Hornets sent 11 batters to the plate, and the inning was highlighted by RBI-singles from Mejia, Rodriguez, Day and Milan Machado-Buckley, and the three-run blast from Evans, who entered as a pinch hitter.

True freshman Gwen Ludwig made her first two starts of the season, and impressed with a hit, two walks and two stolen bases. Day finished 2-for-6 with two runs, two walks and an RBI.

Sacramento State used three pitchers today - Bertuccio (6.0 ip), Alyssa Nunez (3.2 ip) and Webb (2.1 ip).

Utah State improved to 4-5 with today's win, and Santa Clara dropped to 6-7. The Broncos were coming off a doubleheader sweep of Fresno State. Of Sacramento State's four wins, three have now come against Santa Clara.