BASEBALL SCORES SIX IN THE EIGHTH TO TAKE DOWN SAN JOSE STATE, 11-6

5/2/2009

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento State baseball team scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth to take home an 11-6 victory over San Jose State on Saturday, May 2 at Hornet Field.

With the win, the Hornets improved to 24-20 overall, 5-8 in Western Athletic Conference play, while the Spartans dropped to 31-15, 7-6 inside the WAC.

After waiting at the park all day to play, Sacramento State came out focused, taking advantage of two San Jose State errors in the bottom of the third to plate four runs. Sophomore Brent Hottman led off the inning with a single, and after unsuccessfully trying to bunt him over, junior Justin Mezzaneras reached on a fielding error to put two on with no one out. Senior Hunter Martinez laid down a bunt trying to advance the runners, but San Jose State pitcher David Berner overthrew third baseman Josh Silver, allowing Hottman to score. Junior Josh Powers then provided a sacrifice fly RBI to increase the lead to 2-0.

The scoring inning continued, as after junior Tim Wheeler was hit by a pitch, senior Blake Crosby took a 3-2 pitch into right field for a RBI single to make the score 3-0 in favor of the Hornets. Senior Jeff Roth finished the four-run inning with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Wheeler.

San Jose State fought back with three runs in the top of the fourth, as Jason Martin singled and Josh Silver each singled, and with the duo scoring on a double by Kyle Bellows. Later in the inning, Bellows advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a RBI groundout by Anthony Bona that pulled the Spartans to within a run at 4-3.

The Hornets got a run back in the bottom of the fourth, as Mezzaneras hit a one-out single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Martinez, making the score 5-3. Later in the inning, Wheeler connected on a single to left, and Martinez started to round third, slipped, and was tagged out by catcher Anthony Aguilera.

The Spartans took their first lead of the game in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs in the inning. Martin was awarded an RBI on a groundout that ended up with him on first base following a fielding error. Jacob Bruns then provided a RBI single through the right side, which was followed up by a sacrifice fly by Bellows, giving San Jose State a 6-5 lead.

Sacramento State loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Spartan reliever Luke Mazzanti induced an inning ending 543 double play to end the threat.

Martinez tied the game on one swing of the bat in the bottom of the eighth, hitting his fifth home run of the season to right field with two down, tying the score at 6-6. Powers followed with a double to right field, and after Wheeler was intentionally walked and Crosby was walked in the conventional fashion, Roth hit a two-run single to give the Hornets an 8-6.

They were not done in the inning, however, as the next better, sophomore Derrick Chung, hit a deep three-run home run to left field, his third of the season, to extend the lead to 11-6.

Sophomore Chris Baek (4-4) picked up the win for the Hornets in relief, allowing two hits in two innings of work. Tyler Heil (3-1) picked up the loss, allowing six runs on four hits in one inning of work.

Crosby and Martinez each collected three hits to pace the Hornets, while Roth and Chung provided three RBI apiece.

The two teams will play a doubleheader with a pair of nine inning games on Sunday, May 3 at Hornet Field. First pitch of game one, weather permitting, is scheduled for 11 a.m.