PULLMAN, Wash. -- Washington State scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Sacramento State baseball team, 6-5, Monday afternoon at Bailey-Brayton Field.The Hornets dropped to 26-32 on the year while the Cougars improved to 25-20.
Sacramento State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first after a two-run single by junior Pedro Santiago. Senior Jack Arroyo led off the inning with a single to center and then advanced to second on a bunt single by junior Craig Johnson. After both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by senior John Acha, Santiago followed with a single up the middle to clear the bases.
Washington State evened the score in the bottom of the first when Jay Miller hit an RBI double in the right-field corner and Justin Hart recorded an RBI fielder''s choice.
The Hornets took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth when junior Bret LeVier hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Santiago led off the inning with a single to left-center field and then advanced to second on a bunt single to first by sophomore Brian Blauser. After both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt to third by junior Kyle Aure, LeVier followed with deep fly to right field to score Santiago from third.
The Cougars tied the game (3-3) in the bottom of the fourth after an RBI double to right field by Brandon Reddinger.
WSU took a 5-3 lead in the fifth after a sacrifice fly to center field by Grant Richardson and an RBI fielder''s choice by Hart.
Sacramento State cut the margin to 5-4 in the seventh when Acha hit a sacrifice fly to center field. With one out, junior Ronnie Machado, Jr., reached on a throwing error by Justin McClure at short. After Arroyo and Johnson hit consecutive infield hits to load the bases, Acha followed with a drive to center to score Machado, Jr., from third.
The Hornets tied the contest (5-5) in the ninth when Johnson hit a sacrifice fly to center. With one out, Machado, Jr., hit a single up the middle and then advanced to third on a base hit through the left side by Arroyo. Johnson followed with a drive to center to tie the game.
Bryce Chamberlin (7-1) earned the win after pitching 0.1 innings of perfect relief.
Arroyo and Santiago each finished with three hits to lead the Hornet offense.
Freshman Mick Joyce (0-3) was tagged with the loss after giving up an unearned run and a walk in 0.2 innings.
Sacramento State will conclude the 2004 season with a three-game series against Northern Colorado this weekend.
