BASEBALL SUFFERS 8-6 LOSS TO NEVADA IN SERIES OPENER

4/27/2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For the second time this week, the Sacramento State baseball team attempted a late comeback but fell just short. This time, the Hornets dropped an 8-6 decision to Nevada, Friday afternoon at Hornet Field.

The win improved the Wolf Pack to 24-19 overall and 8-5 in the Western Athletic Conference. Sacramento State fell to 11-31 overall and 6-13 in league.

The Hornets trailed 7-4 entering the bottom of the eighth inning but began its comeback with two runs. Working against starter Ryan Rodriguez, David Flores and Gabe Jacobo each singled and Tim Wheeler was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Montana Dye followed with a bases-loaded walk on a 3-2 pitch to drive in his third run of the game. Jeff Hannah’s sacrifice fly down the left field line plated Jacobo and the Hornets were within one, 7-6. Rodriguez avoided further trouble with a pair of groundouts to end the innings.

After Nevada added an insurance run in the top of the ninth, Sacramento State threatened again. With two outs, Flores and Jacobo, again, picked up singles but closer Mario Rivera ended the game with a strikeout for his fifth save of the season.

Sacramento State posted 11 hits during the game, as each of the top seven hitters in the lineup had at least one. Flores and Jacobo paced the team with three hits apiece. The three-hit game was the team-leading ninth for Jacobo this season and the sixth for Flores.

Nevada scored the game’s first run with a two-out single from Konrad Schmidt which scored Shaun Kort.  The Hornets answered back in the bottom of the second with a home run from Dye. The shot was the third for Dye this season and left the ballpark on a line over the center field fence.

The game remained tied until the fourth when the Wolf Pack took a brief 3-1 lead in the top half of the inning. However, Sacramento State posted two runs of their own to make the score 3-3.

During the inning, Blake Crosby lined a ball into right field and beat the throw into second for a leadoff double. Flores moved him to third with a single to left and Tim Wheeler drove in the run with a single through the right side of the infield. Dye plated the second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right.

Following a scoreless fifth inning, Nevada took the lead for good with four runs in the sixth, including three with two outs.  Sacramento State also scored once in the inning on a double from Jeff Hannah which scored Wheeler.

Hornet starter Alvaro Orozco threw four innings before leaving with a blister on the ring finger his pitching hand. Tyler Axelrod pitched two innings in relief before giving way to three other Hornet relievers. The duo of Cyrus Sarraf and Chris Mols did not allow a run in their two innings of work. Sarraf retired the side in order during the seventh but then loaded the bases in the eighth only to have Mols record the final out. Mitch Lively threw the ninth inning.

The three-game series will continue on Saturday at Hornet Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.