The CSUB softball team couldn't make its comeback stand up and Sacramento State did to earn a sweep Wednesday afternoon at Shea Stadium in Sacramento. The Hornets took game one 2-1 in 11 innings before coming from two runs down to win the nightcap 7-3.
CSUB (19-20) came back to support a stellar pitching effort from sophomore Brittany Johnson. Johnson came on in the second inning in relief of starter Katie Chavez and threw nine innings of shutout relief.
Sacramento State (14-17) scored in the first inning then appeared ready to make that run stand up until Justeen Maeva reached on an error to lead off the Roadrunner seventh. Singles by Jaimey Kleinsmith and Sammy Rodriguez loaded the bases with nobody out, but CSUB managed only one run from the rally and that proved decisive.
The Hornets finally ended the game in the 11th when Megan Schaefer hit a one-out single and advanced to second on an error. Jenice Bartee followed with a shot down the leftfield line that probably would not have advanced Schaefer beyond second had she been on first. Starting from second, however, she was able to score standing up.
CSUB scored three runs in the first two innings to jump ahead 3-1 after two innings in the nightcap. Kelli Bailey's RBI double and Jill McClelland's RBI triple highlighted the outburst.
But Sacramento State chipped away at the lead, eventually going ahead, 4-3, with a two spot in the fifth. The Hornets broke the game open in the sixth when they parlayed four singles, a wild pitch and an error into three runs and an insurmountable 7-3 lead.
Bailey, Maeva and Kristen Archuleta each hit safely in both games for CSUB. Bailey had two doubles and Archuleta one in game two.
CSUB returns to Bakersfield to close the home portion of its 2009 schedule with a three-game series against South Dakota this weekend. The action begins with a doubleheader Saturday at the Roadrunner Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
