SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The University of the Pacific scored five runs in the first three innings and cruised to a 10-3 victory over Sacramento State Friday afternoon at Hornet Field.The victory improved the Tigers to 26-26-1 overall and 7-15 in the Big West Conference. It also snapped UOP’s five-game losing streak. The Hornets dropped to 20-34 overall and 2-20 in league games.
Pacific opened the game with singles from Joel Summers and Aaron Harper. After a wild pitch moved both runners up, Tim Gilhooly added to his Big West-leading RBI total with a sacrifice fly to center. The Tigers continued their momentum in the second inning with three runs. Two runs scored on a single to center by Summers which was misplayed and the third run was plated on a single to left by Aaron Harper. UOP extended its lead to 4-0 in the third inning when Jeff Jodlowski singled to left to score Cory Lake.
Sacramento State scored its first run in the bottom of the third inning on a line-drive single to left by Chris Kinsey. Casey Fuller made the score 5-2 in the fourth inning with a towering home run over the right-center field fence.
Pacific, however, put the game out of reach in the sixth inning. The Tigers rallied for four runs on six hits in the inning to go on top, 9-2. With two outs, Nicholas Sekiya and Octavio Amezquita hit back-to-back doubles. Summers, Harper and Lake each added run-scoring singles.
UOP starter James Stanford picked up the win to improve to 9-4. The junior tossed 7.0 innings and allowed five hits and three earned runs while striking out six and walking four. Freshman Warren Rosebrock (1-1) was dealt the loss for the Hornets.
The Tiger offense was guided by Summers’ 4-for-5 effort. Harper, Sekiya and Amezquita each added three hits apiece.
The two teams will continue the three-game series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Hornet Field.
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Pacific (26-26-1, 7-15) 131 004 001 - 10 19 1
Sacramento State (20-34, 2-20) 001 100 100 - 3 6 2
WP - James Stanford (9-4)
LP - Warren Rosebrock (1-1)
James Stanford, Jason Godkin (8) and Octavio Amezquita; Warren Rosebrock, Steve Cuckovich (6) and Joe Evans, Matt Wilson (8).
TOP HITTERS - UOP - Joel Summers 4x5; Nicholas Sekiya 3x5, 2 2B; Octavio Amezquita 3x5, 2B; Aaron Harper 3x6; Tim Gilhooly 2x4; Cory Lake 2x4. SAC - Casey Fuller HR; Keith Carson 2B.
