SANDOVAL SOLID IN COMEBACK START, BUT BASEBALL FALLS TO NEW MEXICO STATE 3-0

4/25/2010

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - In his first appearance since suffering an injury on March 6th against UC Davis, junior Brandon Sandoval started and pitched five scoreless innings, but the Sacramento State baseball team dropped a 3-0 decision to New Mexico State on Sunday afternoon.

With the loss, the Hornets fall to 14-22-1, 3-5 inside Western Athletic Conference play, while the WAC leading Aggies improve to 31-12-1, 9-2-1 in conference competition.

The game was a pitchers duel between the Aggies' Ryan Beck and the Hornets' Sandoval, as neither starter allowed a run in a combined 11 innings of work. New Mexico State produced the only run-scoring inning in the top of the sixth against the Hornet bullpen. Nate Shaver led off the inning with a single to right field, and then with two down Chris Auten walked and Chace Perkins drove both runners home with a two-run triple to left center, giving the Aggies a 2-0 lead. Perkins was then driven in by Joel Cardinal, who singled to left field, increasing the New Mexico State lead to 3-0.

Sacramento State brought the tying run to the plate in the sixth, eighth, and ninth innings, but were unable to drive in any runs, giving New Mexico State the 3-0 victory. For the game, the Hornets stranded all 11 runners who reached base, which included eight who reached safely on hits and three who reached base on walks.

Beck (2-0) picked up the victory for New Mexico State, pitching six scoreless innings while allowing just five hits. He struck out six and walked just one. Steven Anderson allowed a pair of singles with two outs in the ninth, but held on to pick up his second save of the season. Junior Logan Todd (1-5) picked up the loss for the Hornets, allowing three runs on three hits in one inning of work. Sandoval did not factor in the decision, but he pitched brillantly in his return to the mound, allowing three hits in five innings while striking out two batters. He did not surrender a walk. Junior Andrew Galvan did not allow a hit over the final three innings for the Hornets, which included striking out the side in the top of the eighth.

Junior Trevor Paine led the Hornets with a 2-for-4 day at the plate, while freshman Blake Miller went 2-for-5 in the series finale. Senior Josh Powers produced a double for the Hornets, which was their first extra base hit since game one of the series. New Mexico State got two hits apiece from Cardinal and Kyle Decater, while Perkins drove in the game winning runs with his third triple of the season.

The Hornets return to action on Tuesday, April 27 as they travel to take on the Saint Mary's Gaels. First pitch from Moraga is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.