EARLY LEAD SLIPS AWAY FROM BASEBALL IN 11-5 LOSS TO NEVADA

4/28/2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Behind the pitching of freshman Trevor York and a pair of home runs, the Sacramento State baseball team got off to a strong start but saw its 5-1 lead slip away in an 11-5 loss to Nevada on Saturday at Hornet Field.

The Hornets (11-32 overall, 6-14 in the Western Athletic Conference) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Blake Crosby singled to right and David Flores walked to get things started. However, a throwing error on the Nevada catcher allowed Crosby, who was running on the pitch, to advance to third. That error also set up a sacrifice fly by Gabe Jacobo to center field. Sacramento State continued to be aggressive on the base paths as Flores stole second. Freshman Tim Wheeler then chopped a ball to second that was mishandled and Flores alertly scored from second.

Nevada (25-19, 9-5) scored its first run in the second inning but the Hornets matched that effort in the bottom of the third on a Jacobo home run. The sophomore hit the offering straight down the left field line just inside the foul pole and off of the parking structure beyond the left field wall. The home run was the eighth for Jacobo this season and ties him for the second-most by a Hornet since 2004.

While the Hornets were scoring runs, York continued to work his way out of tight spots. The freshman allowed the leadoff batter to reach in four of the first five innings but surrendered just one run to score during that span. York was aided by a pickoff in the first, a line-drive snare by Crosby with two on in the third, and a double play in the fourth.

Sacramento State extended its lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Flores hit his third home run of the season. After a leadoff single from Crosby, Flores crushed the pitch to left center.

York returned to the mound to start the sixth inning only to see Nevada score six runs on seven hits. The Wolf Pack collected three singles and two doubles while only making one out to end the day for York. Nevada added to its lead with a three-run home run to left by David Ciarlo in the seventh and tacked on an additional run in the ninth.

Crosby, Jacobo and Montana Dye each had two hits to lead the Hornet offense. Flores and Jacobo also drove in a pair of runs for Sacramento State.

Matt Renfree earned the win after allowing just one hit over the final 4.1 innings. York took the loss for Sacramento State.

The three-game series will conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m.