SACRAMENTO -- Caroline Evans struck out a career-high 10 batters, and Katie Marsh had three hits (including a homer) in the Hornets' season-opening 6-3 win over Saint Mary's on Friday afternoon.

Today marked the first day of the NorCal Kickoff, hosted over three days by the Hornets at Shea Stadium. Originally, the tournament was supposed to be a four-day event, but yesterday was canceled because of rain.

Sacramento State, which features 14 newcomers on the roster, were led by veterans today. That included Evans as the left-hander allowed just five hits and two runs (one earned) over six innings. The 10 strikeouts surpassed her previous best of nine, set in 2023 vs. Northern Colorado. After allowing a pair of runs in her first three innings of work, Evans retired nine of the final 11 batters she faced.

Marsh, a third-year junior, sparked a Hornet offense that finished with six runs and eight hits. The catcher went 3-for-4 with two runs, a homer and RBI. Both Andrea Lira and Nikki Barboza (also returners) finished with a pair of RBIs, and it was Lira's two-run single in the fifth that snapped a 2-2 tie.

Sacramento State scored once in the second (Barboza RBI-single), once in the third (Marsh opposite field home run), and four times in the fifth. In that fifth inning, the Hornets had three hits and took advantage of three Saint Mary's errors. The big blows in the inning were the Lira two-run single, and a Barboza RBI-double to the center field wall.

Alexa Ortiz, a transfer from CSUN, worked the final inning to put things away.

Sacramento State will play twice tomorrow as part of the tournament with games vs. Utah Valley at noon, and Boise State at 2:30 p.m.