LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Sacramento State split a pair of games on the second day of the Troy Cox Classic, highlighted by the Hornets posting a school-record tying 20 runs in a 20-10 win against tournament host New Mexico State. Sacramento State dropped its first game of the day to Nebraska, 5-4.
The split allowed the Hornets to move their record to 3-1 at the three-day tournament, which includes a doubleheader sweep of North Dakota yesterday. The Hornets conclude the tourney tomorrow with a game against Nebraska at 8 a.m. PT.
Sacramento State's 6-2 record is the team's best start since the 1995 squad was 8-0. Both of the team's losses were by one run. The Hornets are now batting .386 as a team, and eight Sacramento State starters are hitting .350 or better.
Today's win came over a New Mexico State team that had been 6-1 this year. The two teams played in temperatures in the low 40s with 15 mile per hour gusts of wind. The weather did not hinder Sacramento State's potent offense as the team tied one program record (20 runs), and set the school record with 25 hits. The 20 runs tied the original school record, set at San Diego in 2008. The 25 easily hits surpassed the previous mark of 22 vs. Southern Utah in 2016.
All nine Hornet starters had multiple hits in the game, which included an eight-run second inning, and six-run seventh. Sacramento State had 30 total bases in the game, and saw both
Lewa Day and
Caroline Evans match the school single-game record with four hits. The four hits have now been accomplished 35 times in Sacramento State's history as Evans went 4-for-5 with three runs, double and RBI, and Day was 4-for-6 with two runs, double and two RBIs.
Sacramento State trailed, 3-1, after one inning, but the eight spot in the second gave the team the lead for good. Hornets with multiple hits included Day (4), Evans (4),
Samantha Parish (3),
Malissa George (3),
Kennedy Echols (3),
Haley Hanson (2),
Gwen Ludwig (2),
Alexis Parish (2) and
Andrea Lira (2). Hanson, Ludwig, Day, Parish and George all finished with two RBIs.
Freshman
Keeli Smith picked up her first collegiate win, throwing the final six innings. Sacramento State scored 20 runs without the benefit of a home run and the team drew just three walks. New Mexico State also committed an incomprehensible 12 errors.
In the 5-4 loss to Nebraska, the Hornets took an early 2-0 lead, but the Huskers scored five unanswered runs. Sacramento State made a late push with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but could not get over the hump. The Hornets outhit Nebraska, 11-8. Parish (3), Hanson (2) and Ludwig (2) each had multiple hit games.
Evans took the loss, working the first four innings. Smith pitched in both games, throwing two shutout innings of relief against the Huskers.
George, a true freshman who has started two of the last three games, is now batting .857 (6-for-7) with two doubles and five RBIs. Day (.577), Hanson (.481), Evans (.417) and
Alexis Parish (.400) are also hitting at least .400 on the young season.
Sacramento State has committed just two errors this season, good for a .991 fielding percentage - one of the best marks in the nation.
