SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State split a pair of games on the first day of the Capital Classic, beating Santa Clara, 4-3, before falling to San Jose State, 2-0, in eight innings in the nightcap.

Today's game marked the first of the three-day Capital Classic, and Sacramento State will play twice more on Saturday, and once on Sunday.

The loss to San Jose State snapped a nine-game winning streak, which tied for the longest in Sacramento State's Div. I era (1990-pres.). The 2012, 2003, 1995 and 1994 teams also accomplished the feat. 

The Hornets' record is now 14-3, the best mark for the program since the 1995 squad was 15-2.

Sacramento State's pitching staff was, once again, outstanding all afternoon. Kennedie Bacon picked up the win against Santa Clara, and Alexa Ortiz was the unlucky losing pitcher vs. San Jose State. The staff combined to allow just two earned runs and 11 hits in 15.0 innings of work. Only one of those hits went for extra bases, and opponents hit .212.

In the Santa Clara win, Bacon (5-1) pitched the first six innings, allowing just five hits and one unearned run. Danyelle Leone picked up her second save of the season. Ortiz was locked in a pitchers duel with San Jose State starter Delaney Faus, and Ortiz was throwing a three-hit shutout through seven innings. However, the Spartans, aided by the tiebreaker rule placing a runner at second to start the inning, broke through with two runs in the eighth.

Sacramento State scored in just one of the team's 14 innings of offense. Fortunately, that was a four-run frame in the fourth against Santa Clara to erase a 2-0 deficit. A Bronco error allowed both Ava Medellin and Shannon Garcia to score, and Lafulafu Malepeai followed with a two-run homer to center field to give the Hornets a 4-2 advantage. That lead held up as Bacon and Leone were both effective in the circle.

Addy Buckley and Madi Mendoza combined for three hits over two games, while Madison Evers-Lyles and Malepeai both had a pair of hits. Saskia Raab had a hit against Santa Clara, and was hit by a pitch vs. San Jose State, and has reached base safely in every game this season.

The Hornets had a big chance to score in the bottom of the seventh vs. San Jose State, getting a runner to third with one out after Evers-Lyles opened the inning with a double, but failed to score. The Hornets were 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position over both games.

Sacramento State will play San Jose State again tomorrow at noon, followed by a matchup with Sacred Heart at 2:30 p.m.