SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Behind a pair of hits from Lafulafu Malepeai and Shannon Garcia the Sacramento State softball team remained undefeated with a 5-2 win over Cal Poly on Saturday afternoon at Shea Stadium.
 
The Hornets improved to 4-0 for the fourth time in the school's Div. I era and the first time since 2020. During this run, the team has yet to trail in a game and has outscored the opposition, 19-3. Cal Poly dropped to 0-4.
 
Sacramento State jumped on the board early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Katie Marsh singled to shortstop and the ensuing throw got away allowing Malepeai to score from second base. Saskia Raab later doubled down the left field line to plate Marsh.
 
Cal Poly threatened in the top of the second only to see starting pitcher Ella Ferguson work her way out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam. Ferguson, who was making her collegiate debut, fanned Ava Lyons for the first out of the inning and then induced a double play to escape the frame without any damage.
 
The Hornets put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth. Malissa George led off with a walk and was moved to second after a single from Garcia. With one out, Mariah Avalos tripled off the wall in right center to clear the bases on her first collegiate hit. After a pitching change, Malepeai doubled to left to put the Hornets on top, 5-0.
 
Ferguson pitched four innings where she scattered five hits, walked one and had three strikeouts on her way to her first collegiate victory. She gave way to Danyelle Leone who picked up a three-inning save.
 
Cal Poly's only runs of the game came in the sixth inning on an RBI double from A'Niyla Byrd who later scored on a throwing error.
 
Sacramento State will be back in action on Sunday, facing Colorado State at 9:30 a.m. The NorCal Kickoff will conclude at noon when San Diego plays Cal Poly.
 
NOTES

• Malepeai's leadoff single to start the game extended her hit streak to 16 games dating back to last season.
• Sacramento State has a team ERA of 0.50 and a WHIP of 0.68 through the first 28 innings of the season.
• Ten Hornets have at least one hit in the first four games.
• Fifteen of the team's 29 total hits have been for extra bases.