BASEBALL WINS IN WALK-OFF FASHION, 2-1, IN EXTRA INNINGS VERSUS SAINT MARY’S

5/8/2012

Derrick Chung's sacrifice fly in the 10th inning gave the Hornets a 2-1 win vs. SMC.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Derrick Chung hit a sacrifice fly to center in the 10th to drive in junior Andrew Ayers from third and the Sacramento State baseball team defeated Saint Mary’s, 2-1, in its first extra innings game of the season on Tuesday afternoon at John Smith Field.

The Hornets (26-23) won their final midweek game of the year after scoring two runs on eight hits with one error. The Gaels (22-24) lost after tallying one run on eight hits with one error.

Saint Mary’s scored its lone run of the game in the first inning while the Hornets waited until the seventh to get started.

After allowing one run in the first, starting pitcher Hunter Greenwood responded with five shutout innings which gave the Sacramento State offense time to strike.

The Hornets stranded 10 runs on Tuesday, including two in the seventh, but that was also when they notched their first run. Freshman Rhys Hoskins and senior Trevor Paine hit back-to-back doubles to start the inning and Hoskins eventually scored from third on sophomore David Del Grande’s RBI single to short.

Sacramento State’s bullpen – freshman Ty Nichols, junior Tyler Hoelzen, senior R.J. Davis and junior Brandron Creel – continued Greenwood’s strong outing with four scoreless innings and set the Hornets up for the walk-off win.

Ayers led off the 10th inning with a walk and moved to third on sophomore Will Soto’s double to left center that was almost caught by diving center fielder Donald Collins.

With runners on second and third and no outs, Chung calmly hit an 0-1 pitch to center for a sacrifice fly that scored Ayers from third. Collins’ throw to home was wide and Ayers scored easily after tagging up.

Creel (1-0) earned his first win of the season after pitching a perfect 10th while Saint Mary’s reliever Thomas Cortese (1-4) took the loss after allowing the game-winning run on two hits in 3.1 innings.

Sacramento State closes out its Western Athletic Conference schedule this weekend with a three-game home series against first place Hawai’i. The Rainbows jumped to first in the WAC after sweeping previously first place New Mexico State last weekend at home. The Hornets are fourth in the seven-team WAC.

Sacramento State ends the regular season with a three-game non-conference home set against UNLV next weekend before the double-elimination WAC Tournament begins on May 24. The WAC Tournament takes the top six teams in the league while the last place team does not qualify.

Sacramento State 2, Saint Mary's 1 (May 08, 2012 at Sacramento, Calif.)
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Saint Mary's........      100 000 000 0 - 1 8 1 (22-24)
Sacramento State.... 000 000 100 1 - 2 8 1 (26-23)
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Pitchers: Saint Mary's - GRISET, Ben; CORTESE, Thomas(7) and DeMELLO, Toby. Sacramento State - Greenwood, Hunter; Nichols, Ty(7); Hoelzen, Tyler(8); Davis, R.J.(9); Creel, Brandon(10) and Chung, Derrick.
Win-Creel, Brandon(1-0) Loss-CORTESE, Thomas(1-4) T-2:35 A-109
Weather: 92 degrees, sunny
GRISET faced 3 batters in the 7th.
Game: 49SMC12