FLORES' HOME RUN EVENS BASEBALL'S SERIES WITH NORTHERN COLORADO

5/12/2007

GREELEY, Colo. — David Flores’ two-run home run in the eighth inning led Sacramento State to a come-from-behind 4-3 win over Northern Colorado, Saturday afternoon at Jackson Field.

Trailing 3-2 in entering the eighth inning, Gary Johnson singled for his third hit of the game with two outs. That hit set the table for Flores who hit his fifth home run of the season over the left field wall.

The win lifted the Hornets to 17-34 overall while the Bears dropped to 13-31 with the loss.

Sacramento State held a 1-0 lead through the first three-and-a-half innings. The Hornets scored their first run in the first inning when Gabe Jacobo’s sacrifice fly to left scored Johnson. Johnson singled earlier in the inning and advanced to second on an error by the center fielder. He later went to third on Flores’ single.

That score held until the bottom of the fourth inning when Northern Colorado scored their first run against Sacramento State starter Mick Joyce. In fact, the Bears had just one hit through the first three innings. However, in the fourth, Cory Morales singled and later scored on a single from Kevin Sandberg to tie the game.

Northern Colorado took its first lead in the fifth inning with a pair of runs. The Bears had three hits and drew a walk in the inning but Joyce was able to limit the damage and leave two men on base.

Montana Dye made the score, 3-2, in favor of UNC when he hit a solo home run out to left in the top of the seventh for his sixth round-tripper of the year.

Joyce started the bottom of the inning but after a one-out double to John Ray he was lifted in favor of Billy Sinacori. The senior’s outing began shaky with a walk, a wild pitch and a hit batter to load the bases with two outs. Pinch hitter Grady Gorman then looked to add to the Bears’ lead but a highlight-reel catch by Dye in right field ended the inning and left the bases full.

After Sacramento State took the lead in the eighth, Sinacori pitched a perfect bottom of the inning. The right-hander returned to the mound to start the ninth but promptly allowed a leadoff single. Junior Mitch Lively came out of the bullpen and immediately recorded two outs with a popup and a fielder’s choice. However, a single and walk loaded the bases before Lively was able to get Gorman to fly out to right to end the game and record his eighth save of the season.

Sinacori earned the win and improved to 3-1 with 1.2 innings of work. During his time, he allowed just one hit while walking one and striking out one. Joyce finished with a no-decision after throwing 6.1 innings. The lefty, who was bumped up to the Saturday starter after spending the majority of the year starting on Sunday, scattered seven hits and three earned runs. He also fanned five and walked four.

The Hornet offense was led by Johnson who was 3-for-4 and scored two runs. Flores added a pair of hits to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Ryan Blair, Jacobo and Dye also collected hits in the game.

The three-game series will conclude on Sunday with the rubber match. The game is scheduled to start at noon MT (11 a.m. PDT) and can be heard on www.1310kfka.com.