OGDEN, Utah -- Sacramento State nearly erased a 7-1 deficit in the sixth inning, but eventually fell to Weber State, 7-5, at the Big Sky Conference Softball Tournament Thursday afternoon at Wildcat Field.
The Hornets, who were the No. 2 seed, dropped both their tournament games by two runs. In fact, Sacramento State was a bounce or two away from winning both games. In both contests, the Hornets nearly erased late six-run deficits, but ultimately fell. That includes a 12-10 loss to Northern Colorado in which they scored four times in the seventh and had the tying run at the plate when the game concluded.
In today's game, trailing, 7-1, the Hornets scored twice in both the sixth and seventh innings. After pushing across two runs in the seventh, Sacramento State still had the bases loaded with one out, but could not complete the comeback.
This afternoon's loss ends the Hornets' season. The program went 27-20 and was the Big Sky co-regular season champions. Sacramento State received a first round bye at the tournament by virtue of being the No. 2 seed.
Weber State, which is the tournament host, put up crooked numbers in the second (3), third (2) and fifth (2) innings to take a 7-1 lead heading to the sixth. The two teams combined to strand 17 runners on base, including eight for the Hornets.
Highlighting the scoring for Sacramento State was an
Alexis Parish sacrifice fly in the second, a two-run double from
Katie Marsh in the sixth, and a two-run single from
Carley Morfey in the seventh. In that seventh inning, Sacramento State sent eight batters to the plate, totaling two runs, two hits and three walks.
Savannah Wahl (3.0 IP),
Marissa Bertuccio (2.0 IP) and
Caroline Evans (1.0) each pitched in the game.
Five Hornet regulars finish the season with batting averages above .320. That includes Marsh (.330),
Gwen Ludwig (.329), Morfey (.329),
Lewa Day (.328) and
Jada Walker (.325). As a team, the Hornets hit .291 with Day hitting 10 of the Hornets' 19 home runs. Day is also the program's all-time leading home run hitter (46), and will be back next year for her final season.
In the circle, Bertuccio, the two-time Big Sky Pitcher of the Year, finished the season with 14 wins and a 1.84 ERA. Evans had a 2.16 ERA, and Wahl finished with a 3.73 ERA.
