Sacramento State is now 0-2 in 2006, while Saint Mary’s is 1-0 after its season opener.

Junior Montana Dye, in his first season with the Hornets after transferring from Saddleback JC, was responsible for the tying home run that made things 3-3 in the top of the seventh inning, when he sent his solo shot over the left field wall with two outs and the count at 0-2.

But the Gaels scored six unanswered runs - three off two hits and two errors in the bottom of the seventh inning – with Preston Young adding a two-run homer over the right field wall in the bottom of the eighth to solidify the Gaels’ lead. Delaney Gallagher scored Saint Mary''s final run in the eighth on a wild pitch.

Junior Mick Joyce, in his first start of the season and fifth of his career, pitched 3.2 innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits while recording two strikeouts.

Junior right-hander Justin Demé took the loss in his first appearance of the year, pitching 3.0 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) off three hits while collecting four strikeouts.

Allan Lobban got the win for Saint Mary’s, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings and not surrendering a hit. Lobban replaced starter Joel Fountain in the bottom of the seventh after Fountain went 6.2 innings allowing three runs on three hits while striking out six.

In the bottom of the second inning Saint Mary’s, took an early 1-0 lead when Young took first base to start the inning after being hit by a pitch. After advancing to third base on a fielding error, Young scored off Cody Guymon’s RBI single. Joyce then worked his way out of the inning, striking out Ian Gordon and getting Adam Hicks to fly out to right field.

The Gaels built their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third, when Gallagher’s RBI-single to left field scored Orben Frederick from third.

Sacramento State evened the score at 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning. Senior designated hitter Pat Keiper used his speed on the bags, scoring from first base off senior Buddy Morales’ double to center field. Morales then advanced to third base on a passed ball and later scored off senior Jim Strombach’s line drive up the middle.

Saint Mary’s quickly responded in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 3-2 lead when Michael Harris doubled to left center, later scoring on Eric Cattoni’s RBI single to right field. Demé then replaced Joyce on the mound with two outs and runners on first and second. A wild pitch advanced the runners and Sam Carter was walked to load the bases, but the Grass Valley, Calif., native battled out of the inning when Young fouled out to third base.

Sophomore Mitch Lively replaced Deme on the mound in the seventh inning and junior Billy Sinacori faced one batter in the eighth.

Sacramento State will next travel to San Francisco to play two games of its three-game series at Benedetti Diamond. The series starts at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb.10, followed by Saturday’s 1 p.m. start. The Hornets will then return home to host the Dons at Hornet Field at 1 p.m. on Sunday.