STOCKTON, Calif. -- Sacramento State split its first two games at the Mizuno Softball Classic on Friday at Bill Simoni Field. The Hornets won their first game over Marist, 9-0, in six innings, before falling to Iowa State, 8-2, later in the day.

The Hornets will conclude the two-day tournament tomorrow for a game at Pacific at 4:45 p.m.

Prior to the Iowa State loss, Sacramento State had posted mercy rule victories in three straight games for the first time in program history. That included two blowout home wins yesterday against North Dakota. The Hornets enjoyed innings of eight runs in Game 1 vs. North Dakota, a program-record 11 runs in Game 2, and then the Hornets scored seven times in the sixth inning against Marist.

Sacramento State improved to 15-13, and had won four straight prior to the loss to the Cyclones. Marist fell to 10-14, and Iowa State improved to 18-10. The Hornets and Cyclones split the season series as Sacramento State beat Iowa State in Fullerton last weekend by a 3-2 score.

The seven-run inning against Marist included six straight hits with two outs. In fact, all seven runs scored after the second out had been recorded, capped by a three-run homer from Carley Morfey. Prior to the seven-run outburst, Sacramento State had led just, 2-0, through five innings.

Marissa Bertuccio was dominant yet again in the circle against the Red Foxes, allowing just two hits (both singles), no runs and no walks while striking out eight batters. She tossed her third shutout, and ninth complete game of the season, and is now 10-3 with a 2.13 ERA.

Four different Hornets combined for three hits over two games today, comprised of Lewa Day, Lexie Webb, Alondra Mejia and Morfey. Day cranked her 10th home run of the season while Morfey clubbed her third. Both home runs came against Marist.

In the loss to Iowa State, the Cyclones scored six times in the first inning and cruised the rest of they way. The Hornets finished with just five hits off Cyclone starter Saya Swain (6-1). Hornet true freshman Caroline Evans was effective in relief, allowing just two hits and two runs (one earned) with four strikeouts over six innings.

Day is now hitting .425 with a whopping .535 on-base percentage. Lexie Webb (.396) is also very close to inching above the .400 mark.