SACRAMENTO -- Freshman
Alexa Carino went 3-for-3 with a double, homer and six RBIs to lead Sacramento State to a 15-4 victory over Portland State on Thursday afternoon at the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
The Hornets, who opened the day with an 8-7 loss to Weber State, advance to play tomorrow in the double elimination tournament. Sacramento State (27-22), which is the No. 2 seed, will play tournament host Northern Colorado tomorrow at 11 a.m. PT. The loser of that game is eliminated while the winner will play either Idaho State or Weber State tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. PT.
Sacramento State's offense combined for 15 runs and 14 hits in the win over Portland State, while the Vikings were limited to just four hits. No one had a bigger day than Carino who had a three-run homer in the first inning (to give the Hornets a 3-0 lead) and a two-run double in the fourth. She later added a fifth inning sacrifice fly. The true freshman accounted for six of the team's 15 RBIs.
Left-hander
Caroline Evans (8-7) was effective in the circle, and at the plate. Offensively, she went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. In the circle, she allowed just two hits and two runs (one earned) with no walks and six strikeouts over four innings.
The Hornets were never threatened, posting crooked numbers in the first (3), second (3), fourth (3) and fifth (6) innings. Sacramento State jumped out to a 6-0 lead, and led by at least four runs the rest of the way.
Eight different Hornets had hits in the contest, and five had multiple-hit games, including Carino, Evans,
Lafulafu Malepeai (2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI),
Katie Marsh (2-for-2 with three runs and two RBIs) and
Gwen Ludwig (2-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs). For Ludwig, it was her first start since March 18 (a span of 24 games) while dealing with an injury.
Through two Big Sky Tournament games, Sacramento State's offense is batting .456 (26-for-57) with a .507 on-base percentage, four doubles, two homers and 21 RBIs.
Carino (5), Marsh (4) and Evans (4) all have at least four hits through two games thus far.
