RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Senior John Acha finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and a home run but UC Riverside scored three runs in the top of the ninth to earn the 5-3 come-from-behind victory over the Sacramento State baseball team, Sunday afternoon in the final day of the RBI Tournament.The Hornets fell to 10-8 on the year while the Highlanders improved to 8-9. Sacramento State ended the three day round-robin tournament with a 1-2 record after a loss to Washington (4-2) and a win over Oregon State (10-3).
UC Riverside opened a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Nick Salotti recorded an RBI double and Brian Steinmeyer drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Sacramento State made it 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth after a solo home run to left field by Acha. A native of Turlock, Calif., Acha now leads the Hornets with six home runs on the year.
The Hornets took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth Acha drove in two runs with an RBI single to center. Junior Ronnie Machado, Jr., and senior Jack Arroyo led off the inning with consecutive singles before junior Craig Johnson advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt to third. In the next at-bat, Acha laced a single up the middle to give the Hornets their first lead of the contest.
UC Riverside answered with three runs in the top of the ninth after a RBI doubles by Steinmeyer and Louie Hernandez and a steal home by Steinmeyer. With two outs and a runner on first base, Steinmeyer hit a double to left center to tie the ball game at 3-3. After Steinmeyer advanced to third on a wild pitch, Aaron Grant drew a walk and immediately ran for second to induce a rundown. During the rundown, Steinmeyer made a break to the plate and slide around the tag of junior Buddy Morales at the plate. After Grant stole second on the play, Hernandez doubled to right center to score the game’s final run.
Sacramento State put two runners on with one out but were not able to score as UC Riverside sealed the game with consecutive outs.
Brian Hoff (3-1) earned the win after allowing no runs on one hit while striking out one in 1.1 innings.
Freshman Billy Sinacori (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on three hits while walking one and striking out one in 1.0 inning.
Salotti led the Highlanders with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate while Scott Powis recorded two hits in the game.
The Hornets will next host Nevada on Tuesday, March 2, at 2 p.m. at Hornet Field.
