ELROD'S COMPLETE GAME GIVES BASEBALL CAUSEWAY SERIES WIN OVER UC DAVIS

3/15/2009

DAVIS, Calif. - Junior lefthander Tommy Elrod threw a complete game, allowing just one run on six hits without surrendering a walk, as the Sacramento State baseball team defeated the UC Davis Aggies, 10-1, on Sunday, giving the Hornets the series win.

With the victory, the Hornets improve to 6-8 on the season, while the Aggies fall to 3-12.

Sacramento State opened the scoring in the second, as with one out junior Dan McCarthy singled and sophomore Derrick Chung doubled, giving the Hornets runners on second and third with one out. Following a failed squeeze play, junior Jeff Roth stepped to the plate, and with a 2-2 count, placed a two-run single to right field, giving the Hornets a 2-0 lead they would never relinquish.

The Hornets added two more runs the next inning, as senior Blake Crosby and junior Tim Wheeler produced back-to-back singles, and moved to second and third respectively on a wild pitch. Freshman Aaron Crouch then reached on an error by the shortstop, scoring Crosby, making the score 3-0. The score moved to 4-0 after McCarthy walked to load the bases and Chung got hit by a pitch for a RBI, scoring Wheeler on the play.

UC Davis scored their lone run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, as Ty Kelly singled to leadoff the inning, and eventually scored on a RBI groundout by Jared Thompson to pull UC Davis within three at 4-1.

But Sacramento State would close out the game in the top of the fifth, pushing six runs across the board. Chung led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by junior Josh Powers. Roth then singled home Chung for his third RBI of the game, and after sophomore Brent Hottman reached on an error, senior Hunter Martinez connected on an infield single, loading the bases with one out.

Crosby walked, earning a RBI, Hottman scored on a passed ball, and then Wheeler stepped to the plate and connected on a two-run double to the left field line, which made the score 9-1. Wheeler wasn't done, as he stole third and came home after catcher Scott Kalush threw the ball into left field attempting to catch him stealing, making the score 10-1.

The runs were more than enough for Elrod (1-0), who threw 117 pitches on his way to his first complete game and first victory of the season. Elrod, who had thrown five innings in a start on Tuesday against Saint Mary's, did not walk a batter in the game, striking out five Aggie batters.

Jeremy McChesney (0-4) picked up the loss for the Aggies, allowing four runs on six hits in two innings of work.

Roth led the Hornets offense, going 2-for-5 with three RBI, while Wheeler was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Daniel Cepin led the Aggies with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate, and was the only UC Davis player with more than one hit.

The Hornets, who have won five of their last six games, play a Tuesday affair at San Francisco on March 17. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.