SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - The Sacramento State baseball team dropped a 9-2 decision to the Cal Poly Mustangs on Friday, Feb. 27 at Baggett Stadium.
With the loss, the Hornets fall to 1-3 on the season, while the Mustangs improve to 4-1.
With the game remaining tied at 0-0 after three and a half innings, the Mustangs opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth on a squeeze play, as J.J. Thompson sacrificed home Matt Jensen with one out to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. Kyle Smith, the Mustangs ninth place hitter, then connected on a RBI double, giving Cal Poly a 2-0 lead.
The Hornets got a run back in the top of the fifth, as senior Blake Crosby drew a one out walk, stole second base, and came home on a RBI double by senior Hunter Martinez to right center.
Sacramento State tied the score at 2-2 in the top of the sixth on a RBI groundout by junior Josh Powers. Junior Tim Wheeler led off the inning and reached base after being hit by a pitch. Junior Dan McCarthy then sacrificed Wheeler over to second on a bunt to the pitcher, and freshman Justin Lamb followed with a single through the right side. This set the stage for Powers, who grounded out to shortstop, scoring Wheeler.
The Mustangs took the lead back in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Luke Yoder produced a RBI single, and Bobby Crocker followed with a RBI walk to make the score 4-2 in favor of Cal Poly.
The Hornets mounted a charge to get the two runs out immediately, as McCarthy led off the top of the eighth with a double down the left field line. Lamb followed with a walk, and Powers, next at the plate, laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third. Cal Poly's Mark DeVincenzi, however, was able to strike out junior Justin Mezzaneras and Crosby to end the threat.
Cal Poly pulled away in the bottom of the eighth, as five runs crossed the plate. Adam Buschini started the scoring with a two-run single, and crossed the plate himself following a wild pitch and a pair of passed balls. Jensen then followed with a two-run homer, which scored Yoder, who had tripled in front of him, accounting for the final score 9-2.
Neither starter factored into the decisions, as Nick Buchta (0-1) picked up the loss for the Hornets out of the bullpen, allowing two runs on four hits in three innings of work. Mark Laugenour (1-0) worked 0.1 innings, picking up his first career win, while DeVincenzi picked up his first save of the season, pitching the final two frames without allowing a hit.
The Hornets were led offensively by Martinez and sophomore Brent Hottman, who collected two hits apiece. Cal Poly got two hits and two RBI apiece from Buschini and Jensen.
The two teams will do battle once again on Saturday, February 28 at 6 p.m. The scheduled pitching matchup pits Hornet freshman righthander Jesse Darrah (1-0) against Mustang lefty Matt Leonard (0-0).
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - The Sacramento State baseball team dropped a 9-2 decision to the Cal Poly Mustangs on Friday, Feb. 27 at Baggett Stadium.
