SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento State scored all four of their runs in the fourth inning and hung on to defeat Santa Clara softball 4-3 in the first game of the Capital Classic Tournament at Shea Stadium on Friday afternoon.  The Hornets won their ninth game in the row while the Broncos dropped their seventh contest in the last eight games.  
    
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Lafulafu Malepeai's two-run homer was part of the big fourth inning for Sacramento State (14-2) that put the Hornets ahead 4-2.  Just prior to Malepeai's long ball, Sac State tied the game on a throwing error by pitcher Hazyl Gray on a comebacker with runners at first and second.  The errant throw by Gray to first allowed both runners to score to tie up the game at 2-all.  Gray was lifted in favor of Ellison Schroeder after 3 2/3 innings even though none of the four runs in the inning were earned.  
• Santa Clara (7-11) scored a run each in the second and third innings to get ahead 2-0.  The first run came on a throwing error by the catcher to score Elle Merlino. 
• In the third, Gray legged out an infield single, moved to second Kyla Acres' walk and advanced to third on Taryn Clements' sacrifice bunt before coming home on Robynn Balmediano's sacrifice fly. 
• Those were the only two runs allowed by Hornets starter Kennedie Bacon over six innings.  
• Danyelle Leone came in relief to start the seventh as Santa Clara attempted a comeback.  Cairah Curran led off the inning with a single and the next batter, Rebecca Rubio reached on an error to put runners at first and second with no out.  However, Gray grounded into a double play while Curran kept running around the bases to score on the play to make it a one run game, 4-3.  With Claire Krotine at the plate representing the potential game-tying run, Leone got her to foul out to third to close out the game and earn her second save of the season.  Bacon improved to 5-1 and Gray dropped to 0-2.  

NEXT UP:

• Santa Clara will play at LaRue Field on the campus of UC Davis on Saturday starting at 9:30 a.m. PT against Nevada.  They will play their second game at around 2:30 p.m. against host UC Davis.      

Connect with the Broncos on Social Media
Athletics: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Snapchat
Softball: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram