With the win, the Bulldogs (39-16, 18-6) clinch the regular season Western Athletic Conference title and claim the No. 1 seed in the postseason tournament. The Hornets (20-35, 8-16) will be the sixth seed in the double-elimination tourney, playing Fresno State at 7 p.m. on Thursday in their first game.

In his last two starts, Kane (3-7) has recorded 11-strikeout performances on the mound. The Wenatchee, Wash., native now leads the staff with 60 strikeouts on the year and despite his effort today, took the loss after pitching 6.1 innings and allowing five runs on 10 hits. Prior to his 11 strikeout number at Nevada last week, no Hornet pitcher had accomplished the feat since Chris Kinsey recorded 11 on April, 8 2003.

After six innings, the game was tied at 4-4 and with a No. 1 seed in the conference tournament on the line, Fresno State scored three unanswered run in the seventh and eighth innings for the win.

The Bulldogs were led by Steve Susdorf, who finished the game 3-for-5 with three RBIs and his 13th home run of the year, while Loren Storey was 4-for-5 at the plate.

Andy Underwood earned the win for Fresno State, pitching 8.0 innings and holding the Hornets to five runs on eight hits while striking out six.

For the second straight game, it was Sacramento State taking an early lead. Senior Ronnie Machado, Jr., led off the first with a single and stole second to work his way into scoring position. Buddy Morales followed with a single and Brian Blauser was hit to load the bases with one out. Kyle Atrat produced his 23rd RBI of the season with a single to right and Jim Strombach followed with a RBI-groundout to score Morales for the Hornets second run.

In the second, Sacramento State added its third run when Everet Rincon scored on Brian Blauser’s single to left field.

The Bulldogs put up their first run in the third and tied the game in the top of the sixth, scoring two runs on three hits when Brian Lapin scored on a wild pitch and Frank LoNigro stole home.

For the third straight game, Machado, Jr., recorded multiple hits, going 2-for-4 from the plate. Morales finished the day 2-for-3 with two runs scored and is now batting .330 on the season with 18 multiple-hit games.

Blauser finished his day with two hits including his 14th double of the year, while Strombach was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk.