SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Junior Ronnie Machado, Jr., finished 3-for-4 with a run and four RBI while the Hornets plated nine runs in the bottom of the third inning as the Sacramento State baseball team defeated Saint Mary’s, 13-5, Friday afternoon at Hornet Field.Sacramento State is now 6-3 overall while Saint Mary’s fell to 2-5.
The Gaels scored the game’s first run in the first inning when Bryan Byrne drove in Mike Sansoe from second with an RBI single to center field. Sacramento State answered with a run in the bottom of the inning after an RBI double to left by junior Andy Hnilo. With two outs, junior John Acha hit a single to right center and then scored on Hnilo’s drive to left. The Hornets added another run in the second when Machado, Jr., drove in junior Bret LeVier with a sacrifice fly to center.
In the bottom of the third, Sacramento State scored nine runs on five hits, two wild pitches a walk and a fielder’s choice. After a fly out to center by junior Craig Johnson, the Hornets sent 10-consecutive batters to the plate without recording an out. Senior Jack Arroyo, junior Ryan Browne, LeVier, Machado, Jr., and Acha each drove in a run with a hit while junior Kyle Aure drew a bases loaded walk from Saint Mary’s starter Shane Day and freshman Mick Joyce recorded an RBI fielder’s choice. The remaining runs crossed the plate after consecutive wild pitches by Gael reliever Allan Lobban.
The Hornets added another run in the sixth when Machado, Jr., drove in Browne from third with an RBI base hit to third base.
Saint Mary’s tallied runs in the seventh and eighth innings after an RBI double by Gilbert Gil and an RBI fielder’s choice by Sansoe.
Sacramento State scored its final run of the contest in the eighth when Machado, Jr., drove in Joyce from first with an RBI double to left center field.
Junior Ethan Katz (2-0) earned the win after allowing three runs on six hits while walking one and striking out four in six innings of work. Junior Brandon Hall pitched a perfect ninth in first Hornet appearance.
Day (0-3) was tagged with the loss after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on five hits while walking two and striking out one in 2.1 innings.
Arroyo also finished with three hits in the game (3-for-6) with a run and an RBI. Acha and LeVier each finished 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI to also lead the Hornet offense.
Sansoe, Gil and Byrne each finished with two hits to lead the Gaels.
Sacramento State and Saint Mary’s will continue the three-game set on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 1 p.m. as the series shifts to Louis Guisto Field in Moraga. The final game of the weekend will return to Hornet Field on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 1 p.m.
