It was both team’s opening game in Western Athletic Conference play as the Hornets fall to 11-17 on the year overall and the Bulldogs improve to 20-8, maintaining their current 13-game winning streak.

With Hornet right-hander Mitch Lively on the mound in the eighth inning, in relief of starter Matt Campbell, the Hornets trailed just 2-1. But the Bulldogs’ three hits and two doubles resulted in three scores and a four-run lead for Fresno State heading into the ninth.

With runners on first and second in the bottom of the eighth, Christian Vitters RBI double to left center scored Loren Storey. Sacramento State right-hander Billy Sinacori replaced Lively on the mound and then surrendered an RBI double to center field, scoring Beau Mills. The Bulldogs posted their fifth and final run when Vitters scored on a wild pitch.

After the first six innings of the game, things were tied at 1-1 in a duel between starters. Sacramento State left-hander Matt Campbell allowed just six hits and one run in the first six innings, before surrendering the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh on back-to-back doubles from Vitters and Brian Lapin.

Vitters finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs, while Lapin was 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Campbell (2-5) took the loss after allowing two runs on eight hits in six innings of work.

Fister, a right-hander, improved to 4-3, allowing one run on six hits, while striking out five in seven innings. Brandon Burke earned his second save of the season, holding the Hornets without a hit during the final two innings of the game.

Sacramento State took the first lead of the game in the top of the third. With two outs, senior first baseman Brian Blauser kept the inning alive with a double down the left field line. Senior Kyle Atrat then produced an RBI-single to center field, scoring Blauser, and giving the Hornets a 1-0 lead.

For Blauser, an Elk Grove, Calif., native, it was his fifth double of the season, while Atrat picked up his 14th RBI.

Fresno State matched the Hornets when left fielder Steve Susdorf homered to right field, tying the game in the sixth.

The Hornets were led by senior left fielder Brian Conradi, who finished 2-for-4. Senior center fielder Jim Strombach was 1-for-3 and recorded his team-leading sixth sacrifice hit of the season. Junior right fielder Montana Dye was 1-for-3 and was also hit by a pitch.

The game was the first of a three-game weekend series. The second game is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Beiden Field on Saturday evening. The Hornets can be followed on gametracker at www.gobulldogs.com.