SACRAMENTO -- True freshman Alexa Carino's pinch-hit, three-run homer in the fifth inning helped the Hornets overcome a 5-2 deficit on the way to a 6-5 victory over UC Davis on Wednesday afternoon at Shea Stadium.

Carino picked a great time for her first collegiate homer, crushing the first pitch she saw over the center field fence. The three-run blast gave the Hornets a 6-5 lead that reliever Alexa Ortiz would eventually lock down for the win. Carino entered the game with six at-bats all season before hitting the dramatic blast.

Sacramento State (9-5) entered the bottom of the fifth trailing UC Davis, 5-2, as the Aggies had just scored three in the top of the inning. A Malissa George RBI-double cut the deficit to 5-3, and Jazzy Fines' single put runners at the corners. The Hornet coaching staff decided to pinch hit Carino who delivered in a big way.

That marked the first lead of the game for the Hornets as UC Davis jumped out to a 2-0 lead before a Caroline Evans two-run homer tied things in the fourth. The homer for Evans was her second of the season.

Ortiz was very good in the circle, tossing the final 2.2 innings of relief, allowing just one hit and no runs with four strikeouts.

Gwen Ludwig and George both had two hits, and George connected for her first two doubles of the season. Evans and Carino both had bombs, and Shannon Garcia and Fines collected the Hornets' other knocks in the eight-hit Hornet offensive attack.

Sacramento State is now 71-41 all-time against its crosstown rival, and today was a good way to start a stretch of five straight home games. That homestand continues tomorrow against BYU at 2 p.m.