Louisiana Tech improves to 27-13 overall and remains in first place in the Western Athletic Conference with a 9-3 league record. The Hornets fall to 17-24 and 6-7 in the WAC.

The Bulldogs decided the game in the fourth, putting up six runs on three hits, backed by Hamilton’s three-run blast to center field. Sacramento State held a 6-4 lead entering the inning, but senior left-hander Matt Campbell had the bases loaded with no outs after a walk, error and single. Campbell walked in a run before surrendering a two-run single to Albie Goulder. The Bulldogs’ first baseman finished the afternoon 3-for-4 with five RBIs, one run and one walk.

Campbell was replaced on the mound by right-hander Justin Demé, who gave up Hamilton’s homer to center field. The junior retired the next two batters to escape the inning and in his next five innings of work, held the Bulldogs scoreless on five hits while striking out three.

Campbell (4-7) took the loss after pitching 3.1 innings and allowing nine runs (eight earned) while walking three.

Trailing 10-6, Gary Johnson scored in the bottom of fourth on senior Buddy Morales’ RBI. Morales, now with 12 multiple-hit games this season, finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while also recording his 10th double of the year.

The Hornets had a 4-1 lead after the first inning thanks to sophomore David Flores’ bases-clearing double. Louisiana Tech starter Luke Burnett walked Patrick Cummins and Morales and hit senior Brian Blauser to load the bases. Senior designated hitter Pat Keiper, who leads the team with a .341 batting average, singled to score Cummins and Morales for the Hornets’ first two runs. Flores, who is batting .512 against conference competition, then hit a two-run shot deep to center field to plate Blauser and Keiper.

The Union City, Calif., native is batting .340 on the year, after finishing the game 2-for-3 with three RBIs, two doubles and one run scored. The starting third baseman is also tied for the team lead with seven multiple-RBI games.

After taking a 4-1 lead after one, the Bulldogs tied things with three runs in the third, but the Sacramento State retaliated with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Morales, who started things with a double to left, scored on Flores’ RBI double. Senior Brian Conradi then recorded his 14th RBI of the season with a extra-base hit down the left field line to plate Flores.

Andrew Alsup (3-0) earned the win in 6.1 innings of relief for Burnett. Alsup allowed just one unearned run on one hit.

Louisiana Tech’s Adam Cobb was 3-for-5 on the day with two runs scored and left fielder Brandon Hudson finished 2-for-5 with one RBI and one run.

The Bulldogs and Hornets will play their second game of the series, Saturday at 1 p.m at Hornet Field. It will be Pepsi Kids’ Day at the field, with the first 100 fans receiving rally towels as well a prizes sponsored by Pepsi.