LONG BEACH, Calif. -- On the second day of the Louisville Slugger Invitational, Sacramento State dropped a pair of 6-4 decisions to Long Beach State and Boston on Saturday afternoon at the LBSU Softball Complex.

Sacramento State is now 0-4 at the three-day tournament, but has dropped each of those games by two runs or less. That included one-run losses yesterday to Nebraska and Cal State Fullerton. The tournament is being co-hosted by Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State. After playing in Long Beach today, the Hornets will return to Fullerton tomorrow to take on Iowa State at 10 a.m.

The loses dropped Sacramento State to 11-12 this season. Each of the last five games, and seven of the last nine for the Hornets have been decided by two runs or less.

Offensively, the Hornets scored eight runs today on 16 hits over two games. The pitching staff posted a 3.77 ERA, but once again, the Sacramento State defense had a large hand in today's defeats. That included the Hornets committing three errors that led to five unearned runs. Four of those unearned runs came in the Long Beach State loss. Hornet defensive issues have now contributed to at least six Sacramento State losses this season.

Six different Hornets had multiple hits today, including Nikki Barboza (3), Lexie Webb (3), Rylee Gresham (2), Carley Morfey (2), Lewa Day (2) and Alondra Mejia (2). Day hit a home run against Boston, and now has nine round trippers this season. Over her last six games, the junior third baseman has five home runs, and is averaging one bomb every 7.4 at-bats this season.

Sacramento State used Marissa Bertuccio (vs. Boston) and Webb (vs. Long Beach State) as starting pitchers today. The most effective pitcher, however, was true freshman Caroline Evans, who threw 3.1 innings of hitless relief over both games. She did not allow a run and struck out three batters during her two relief appearances.

The Hornets' lone lead of the day was 2-0 in the first inning against Boston after RBI-singles from Mejia and Barboza got the Hornets on the board. However, the Terriers had a four-run third inning, and eventually took a 6-2 lead before withstanding a late Sacramento State rally that included single runs in the sixth and seventh innings.

With the score tied at 3-3 against Long Beach State, the 49ers scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a commanding 6-3 lead, and eventually held on for the victory.

Of the Hornets' 23 games this season, 12 have now been decided by two runs or less. Sacramento State is 6-6 in those outcomes.