POCATELLO, Idaho -- Sacramento State dropped both games of a Big Sky Conference doubleheader at Idaho State on Friday afternoon at Miller Ranch Stadium. The Hornets lost the first game, 7-5, before falling in the nightcap, 8-0, in six innings.

Today was the start of a three-game series between the two teams that will conclude tomorrow at 11 a.m. PT. Entering this afternoon, it was a matchup of the first place (Idaho State) and second place (Sacramento State) teams in the Big Sky Conference standings.

The sweep allowed Idaho State (32-16, 8-3) to take a commanding lead atop the conference, while the Hornets dropped to 26-17 overall and 5-6 in league play. Only four Big Sky games remain in the regular season for both teams.

Sacramento State had plenty of hits (14) and plenty of opportunities to score more than five combined runs, but the Hornets struggled with runners in scoring position over the course of the doubleheader. The team was 2-for-12 in those scoring opportunities while Idaho State was 8-for-21 with RISP (.381).

In addition, the usually reliable Hornet pitching staff allowed 17 hits and 15 runs (12 earned) over 11.1 innings. Right-hander Keeli Smith was very good in relief in Game 2, allowing just three hits and a unearned run in 3.1 innings of work.

Madi Mendoza continued her torrid stretch, combining for three hits over two games. Saskia Raab also had three hits, and the two players increased their hitting streaks to seven games (Raab) and five games (Mendoza). Lafulafu Malepeai went hitless in Game 2, and saw her hitting streak come to an end at 15 games.

In the opener, the Hornets took a 2-0 lead, highlighted by a solo home run in the third from Madison Evers-Lyles, but Idaho State scored seven unanswered runs to take a 7-2 lead. Sacramento State threatened with three runs in the seventh (including a two-run single from Raab), and had the tying runners on base, but could not get over the hump.

Shannon Garcia also had a hit in both games, and finished the day with a pair of knocks.