LAMB AND POWERS HOMER AS BASEBALL TRIUMPHS OVER ARIZONA 10-7

2/21/2009

TUCSON, Ariz. - Freshman Justin Lamb and junior Josh Powers each homered, and drove in a combined seven runs, as the Sacramento State baseball team knocked off the Arizona Wildcats by a score of 10-7 on Saturday, Feb. 21.

With the win, the Hornets improve to 1-0 on the season, while the Wildcats fall to 1-1.

Lamb opened up the scoring in the top of the first, as with two on and two out the true freshman blasted his first career home run to right center field, driving home juniors Tim Wheeler and Dan McCarthy to give the Hornets a 3-0 lead.

The lead stretched to 7-0 in the top of the second, as with two on and one out, sophomore Derrick Chung connected on a triple to the left center gap, scoring seniors Blake Crosby and Hunter Martinez, who each reached on errors. After Wheeler walked, McCarthy reached on an error, scoring Chung. Then Lamb stepped to the plate, hitting a single to left field that scored Wheeler to cap off the four run inning.

Arizona fought back with a run in the bottom of the second to make the score 7-1, but Powers answered in the top of the third with a leadoff homer to left center, giving the Hornets an 8-1 lead.

The Hornets added additional insurance in the top of the fourth. Wheeler led off the inning with a single, and McCarthy followed with a walk. With one down, following an error that allowed the baserunners to advance to second and third, Powers connected on a two run single to left field, making the score 10-1 in favor of the Hornets.

The score would remain that way until the Wildcats mounted a rally in the top of the ninth, as Bobby Coyle connected on a RBI single, and Dillon Baird produced a grand slam that cut the score to 10-7. Junior Tommy Elrod came out of the pen to get the final out, and the Hornets posted their first victory of the season.

True freshman Jesse Darrah pitched well in his first career start, allowing two runs on seven hits in five innings, striking out five batters on the way to his first career victory. Senior Nick Buchta relieved Darrah, and allowed just two hits through his first three innings of work before giving up four hits in the ninth.

Wheeler led the Hornets with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate, scoring three runs, while Lamb and Powers each produced two hits. Lamb finished with four RBI, while Powers added three runs batting in and Chung produced two.

Matt Veltmann (0-1) picked up the loss for the Wildcats, allowing eight runs, just one earned, in two innings of work. Cody Lewis and Joe Allison kept the Hornets scoreless through the final 3.1 innings in relief. Daniel Butler and Rafael Valenzuela each provided three hits to lead Arizona offensively.

The two teams close out the three-game set in a rubber match on Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. (MT). Sacramento State will throw sophomore righthander Chris Baek, while Arizona will counter with freshman righthander Donn Roach.