WHEELER'S BAT AND SANDOVAL'S ARM LEAD HORNETS TO 9-0 SHUTOUT OF CORNELL

3/20/2009

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Junior Tim Wheeler went 4-for-4 at the plate and sophomore Brandon Sandoval threw 7.1 shutout innings as the Sacramento State baseball team defeated Cornell 9-0 on Friday, March 20 at Hornet Field.

With the win the Hornets improved to 9-8 on the season, and are now winners of eight of their last nine contests. Cornell dropped to 2-8 following the loss.

The Hornets pushed the first run of the game across the board in the top of the first as Wheeler singled with two outs, advanced to second on a single by senior Blake Crosby, stole third, and scored on a throwing error by the catcher.

Sacramento State extended the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third as, following a double by junior Josh Powers, Wheeler connected on a two-run home to right field, his fourth of the season. The lead grew to 5-0 following the bottom of the sixth, as the Hornets scored a single run in the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth, senior Hunter Martinez doubled with one down, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Powers. Sophomore Brent Hottman then connected on a two-out solo home run to left field in the sixth, his second of the season.

Three more runs crossed the plate in the bottom of the seventh, as with Martinez on second and two out, Wheeler smacked a RBI single through the right score. Crosby then hit a deep homer to left field, his first of the season, to extend the lead to 8-0. The final run of the game came home in the bottom of the eighth, as with two down, Martinez hit a RBI single to right that score freshman Justin Lamb, giving the Hornets a 9-0 victory.

Sandoval (2-2) and junior Brian Filice combined for the shutout, with Sandoval allowing five hits in 7.1 innings, striking out five without walking a batter. Filice allowed just one hit in 1.2 innings, striking out three Big Red batters in the process.

Wheeler produced the third four-hit game of his career, and also added three RBI, three runs scored, and a pair of stolen bases. With the two-run home run in the bottom of the third, Wheeler has now hit for the home run cycle for the season, with his four homers consisting of a grand slam, a three-run homer, a two-run homer and a solo shot.

Martinez went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, two stolen bases and a RBI, while Crosby finished the day 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.

Cornell starter Matt Hill (1-3) allowed five runs, four earned, over six innings, surrendering eight hits while striking out seven. Offensively for the Big Red, Adam Jacobs was a perfect 3-for-3, while Jadd Schmeltzer went 2-for-3 on the day.

The two teams will conclude the series on Saturday, March 21 with a doubleheader, starting at 11 a.m.