FRESNO, Calif. - Junior Jeff Groeger threw his second complete game

in as many tries and Joe Evans went 3-for-4 to lead Sacramento State

to a 4-3 win over Fresno State Tuesday night at Beiden Field.

The win improved the Hornets to 23-30 overall and gave the team its

fifth victory in its last seven tries. The Bulldogs dropped to 35-21

and saw their chances of reaching the NCAA Regionals slip a bit.

After both pitchers cruised through the first three innings,

Sacramento State posted the game's first run when Evans hit his 14th

home run of the year over the left-center field fence. Fresno State

tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Tobey

Riday-White.

The scored remained knotted until the seventh when the Hornets scored

a pair of runs. Evans opened the rally with a single to center. Dave

Lusk then moved him to second with a sacrifice. Mario Celillo plated

Evans with a single to left and moved to second on the throw to the

plate. Freshman Chris Kinsey followed with a fly out to right which

allowed Celillo to move to third. He then scored on a passed ball.

The Bulldogs attempted to answer in the eighth inning. After two

quick outs, Josh Labandeira homered to center field. Brandon Gemoll

was then hit by a pitch and Casey McGehee walked to place runners on

first and second. Groeger, however, was able to get out of the jam

when Brad Harper grounded out to short.

Sacramento State added an insurance run in the ninth inning. Daryl

Grant led off the frame with an infield single. Starter Zach Minor

was then relieved by Francisco Nieves. Nieves promptly threw the ball

away on a pick-off attempt which allowed Grant to move to third base.

Evans followed with a line drive off the glove of the third baseman

to score Grant and give the team a 4-2 lead.

Groeger opened the ninth by striking out Ben Fritz and getting Nick

Garcia to fly out to center. Riday-White made it a one-run game with

a monster home run to left field before Tony Guzman flew out to left

to end the game.

The win over Fresno State was the first for the Hornets since May 14, 1995.

Sacramento State will complete its home portion of the schedule this

weekend with a three-game series against Cal State Northridge. The

first game will begin at 2 p.m. on Friday. Prior to the start of

Sunday's game, the team will honor its seniors who will be playing in

their final contest.

WP - Jeff Groeger (6-7)

LP - Zach Minor (7-4)

Jeff Groeger, Joe Evans, Zach Minor, Francisco Nieves (9) and Ben Fritz.

TOP HITTERS: SAC - Joe Evans 3x4, HR, Carlos Morales 2x4, 2B, Mario

Celillo 2x4, 2B; FSU - Tobay Riday-White 3x4, HR, 2B, Tony Guzman 2B,

Brandon Gemoll 2B, Ben Fritz 2B.