SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento State Hornets fell back into a tie for first place in the Western Athletic Conference following a 9-4 series opening loss to San Jose State on Friday, April 11 at Hornet Field.
With the loss, the Hornets fall to 13-16, 8-4 in WAC play, which matches Nevada’s conference record for a first place tie in the conference. The Spartans improve to 16-14, 7-9 in the WAC, which includes a 4-1 season mark over the Hornets.
The Spartans opened the scoring in the top of third, as Sonny Garza was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, sacrificed to second by Alex Sofranac, then stole third on a failed hit and run attempt, and scored on a RBI single by John Shaffer.
The score would remain 1-0 in favor of the Spartans until the top of the fifth, where San Jose State would add seven more runs to take an 8-0 advantage. Craig Hertler, started the RBI train with a single, then Corey Valine drove home a run while reaching on a throwing error, which was immediately followed by a two-run single by Danny Stienstra. Anthony Aguilera then connected on a long fly ball to left field that was robbed of extra bases against the wall on a sliding grab by junior Gabe Jacobo, but Aguilera got credit with a sacrifice fly RBI. Sonny Garza, the tenth batter of the inning then hit a two-run double to the center field wall, making the score 8-0.
The Hornets would fight back in the bottom of the sixth, as senior Jeff Hannah connected on a single to lead off the inning, and was brought home three batters later on a RBI single by senior Ryan Blair. Senior David Flores, who currently ranks fourth in the country in doubles, hit a hard line drive to left center field for his 17th double of the season, scoring senior Taylor Watanabe, who singled earlier in the inning, as well as Blair, making the score 8-3.
Sacramento State would pull to within four in the eighth inning, as Flores hit a long solo home run to left field that landed on top of the six story parking structure located 10 feet behind the wall, his third long ball of the season, to make the score 8-4. San Jose State would get the run back in the top of the ninth, as Valine hit a no-doubter over the left field wall himself, his third of the season, to account for the final margin of 9-4.
Spartan hurler David Berner (1-5) picked up his first win of the season, allowing three earned runs on eight hit in seven innings of work, striking out four without walking a batter. Hornet junior Jose Ramirez (3-3) allowed more than three runs for the first time since March 1, as he gave up seven runs, five of which were earned, on seven hits in 4.1 innings, striking out two. Freshman Brandon Sandoval had a strong relief outing, allowing just one run on four hits while pitching the final four frames.
Flores led the Hornets with his 2-for-4 performance at the plate, driving in three of the Hornets four runs. Junior Blake Crosby also went 2-for-4 with a single and a double, while tying Flores for the team lead with five assists. Stienstra ended the day 4-for-5 at the plate with two RBI, while Valine was 2-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Spartans.
The two teams will meet again Saturday, April 12, in a doubleheader at 11 a.m. at Hornet Field.
SACRAMENTO, Calif.
