Sacramento State fell to 9-6 on the year while the Aggies improved to 7-6.

UC Davis opened a 6-0 lead in the second inning when Matt Blakenheim, Josh Behrens, Matt Kamigawachi and Andrew Reisinger recorded RBI hits while Brandon Oliver drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Sacramento State cut the lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the second when sophomore Jim Strombach and junior Ronnie Machado, Jr., each drove in a run with a hit. With one out, LeVier singled to left field and then advanced to second on a groundout by junior Buddy Morales. In the next at-bat, Strombach poked a single to center. After Strombach stole second, Machado, Jr., went with a pitch and drove the ball down the right field line for an RBI double.

The Hornets added another run in the fourth after a lead-off solo homer by LeVier to left center. For the Whittier, Calif., native, it marked his third home run on the season. Sacramento State cut the deficit to 6-4 in the fifth when LeVier drove in a run on a fielder’s choice. Junior John Acha singled to the right side and then advanced to second on a stolen base. After junior Brett Flowers drew a walk, junior Andy Hnilo advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt to third. LeVier followed with a fielder’s choice to short, allowing Acha to score from third.

The Aggies put the game away with four runs in the sixth inning (10-4) after a grand slam to left field by David Butterworth. After three-consecutive batters reached safely, Kamigawachi flew out to short center field for the first out of the inning. Butterworth followed with a towering shot that reached the fourth level of the parking structure.

UC Davis added two more runs in the final two innings to end the game. In the eighth, Butterworth hit his second homer of the game with a solo shot over the left-center wall. In the ninth, Robby Tulk drove in a run with a single to center field.

Paul Gonzales (1-2) earned his first victory of the season after allowing four runs on six hits while walking four and striking out one in 5.0 innings. Nik Aurora added four innings of shutout relief for the save.

Sophomore Mel Cuckovich (0-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs on six hits while walking one and striking out two in 1.1 innings.

Machado, Jr., also finished 2-for-4 in the game to lead the Hornets. Senior Jack Arroyo’s consecutive-hit streak ended at 14 games after finishing 0-for-4.

Butterworth went 4-for-4 with two runs, two home runs and five RBI to lead the Aggie offense. Tulk also finished with four hits (4-for-5) to help contribute to the squad. Kamigawachi also added three hits (3-for-5).

Sacramento State will next compete in the RBI Tournament in Riverside, Calif., on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 27-29. The Hornets open against Washington on Friday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. before facing Oregon State on Saturday, Feb. 28, at noon. The squad will complete the weekend against host UC Riverside on Sunday, Feb. 29, at 3 p.m.

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