PAIR OF SENIORS SHINE IN BASEBALL'S 8-6 VICTORY OVER LOUISIANA TECH

4/25/2009

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Seniors Blake Crosby and Jeff Roth posted three hits, with each providing a home run, as the Sacramento State baseball team took home an 8-6 victory over Louisiana Tech on April 25 at Hornet Field.

With the win, the Hornets improved to 23-17 on the season, 4-6 inside of the Western Athletic Conference, while the Bulldogs fell to 20-18, 5-9 in WAC play.

The Hornets opened the scoring in the bottom of the second, as with two on, freshman Justin Lamb hit a three-run homer to left field, his eighth of the season, giving Sacramento State a 3-0 lead.

The lead grew in the bottom of the third, as Crosby started a four-run inning, providing an RBI infield single that plated sophomore Derrick Chung. Roth then drove in three with a towering home run to left field, his seventh of the season, to increase the lead to 7-0.

Louisiana Tech made the game interesting in the top of the fifth, plating five runs to pull to within two at 7-5. Mark Threlkeld started the rally with a RBI single, and later in the inning, ninth place batter Clint Ewing hit a grand slam to left to account for the five run inning.

Insurance came in the bottom of the seventh, as one out Crosby hit a line drive over the left field wall for his fourth home run of the season, pushing the Hornet advantage back to three runs at 8-5.

The Bulldogs mounted a brief rally in the top of the ninth, as Devon Dageford led off the inning with a solo home run to center field to make the score 8-6. Louisiana Tech then brought the tying run to the plate twice in the inning, but Roth, who came in to pitch following the home run, induced a double play and a groundout to close out the win.

Freshman Jesse Darrah (8-2) allowed six runs on nine hits in eight innings, but struck out seven and allowed just one walk. Roth picked up his sixth save of the season, allowing one hit in the final frame. Jeb Stefan (3-5) picked up the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing eight runs on 11 hits in 6.2 innings, striking out 10 Hornet batters.

Both Crosby and Roth finished 3-for-4 on the day, with Roth posting three RBI and Crosby providing two. Five other Hornets posted a single hit, with Lamb providing the remaining three RBI. All nine Bulldog starters posted hits, with Threlkeld being the lone Louisiana Tech player to post a pair of hits.

The two teams will play the third game of the four game series on Sunday, April 26 at Hornet Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.