SACRAMENTO, CA– Siena Softball kicked off its first trip to California in six years by facing off with Capital Classic host team Sacramento State Thursday afternoon. The Saints dropped an 11-4 decision in its first-ever matchup with the Hornets at Shea Stadium in Sacramento, California.

The home team immediately got on the board with a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the first, but the Saints battled back during the next half-inning, with seniors Shannon Bonewit and Angelina Stile scoring on a fielding error.

Sacramento State fired back with another bases-loaded two-bagger in the home half of the second, which was followed by a two RBI single from Stile in the top of the third to put the score at 6-4.

After Siena left a pair on-base in the top of the fifth, the Hornets put the game away in the bottom of the frame with five more runs off a sacrifice fly, RBI triple, RBI single, and two-run home run.

The home team held a 14-8 advantage in hits, with junior Isabella Pardo going 3-4 with a run scored to lead Siena offensively.

Graduate student Ava Fitzmaurice (3-1) took her first loss of the season in the circle with six runs (three earned) allowed in one and one-third innings, while senior Nicole Patille struck out a pair in 3.1 relief innings and classmate Allison Speshyock pitched the final 1.1 innings.

Siena will head across town for doubleheader action on Friday in Davis, CA against Alabama State at 1 PM EST and UC Davis at 3:30 EST.