BASEBALL FALLS TO SAN FRANCISCO IN 11 INNINGS, 5-4
4/7/2010
SAN FRANCISCO - The Sacramento State baseball team got three hits apiece from freshman Andrew Ayers and junior Trevor Bloom, but fell to the San Francisco Dons in 11 innings by a score of 5-4 on Wednesday, April 7 at Benedetti Diamond.
With the loss, the Hornets fall to 11-16-1, while the Dons improve to 15-14.
Only four half innings saw scoring in the contest, with the Dons striking first for four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jason Mahood hit a two-run homer to start the scoring in the inning, and Nik Balog followed with a RBI sacrifice fly to give te Dons a 3-0 lead. later in the inning, Pete Lavin provided a RBI single, giving San Francisco a 4-0 advantage after four innings.
The Hornets got three runs back immediately in the top of the fifth, as Bloom, senior Justin Mezzaneras and sophomore Justin Lamb provided three straight singles to load the bases. Ayers then provided a two-run double down the left field line to cut the deficit in half, and later in the inning, freshman Blake Miller provided a RBI groundout to pull the Hornets to within one at 4-3.
Sacramento State tied the score at 4-4 in the top of the seventh, as Ayers singled to right-center to lead off the inning, and after Miller was hit by a pitch to give the Hornets runners on first and second, junior Trevor Paine singled through the left side, scoring Ayers to even the score. The Hornets had chances late to take the lead, including the top of the ninth, where the Hornets had runners on second and third with two down but were unable to score a run.
USF was able to take advantage of their best opportunity in the bottom of the 11th, as Ryan Lipkin doubled to left field to open the inning, was bunted to third and then scored on a RBI sacrifice fly by Robert Able to win the ballgame.
Junior Andrew Galvan (1-2) picked up the loss for the Hornets, allowing one run on one hit in 1.2 innings of work. Sophomore Jesse Darrah did not factor in the decision, allowing four runs on eight hits in nine innings of work, striking out eight while walking just one. Matt Chavez (1-0) picked up the win in relief for the Dons, allowing just one hit in two innings of work.
Ayers finished the day 3-for-5 with three RBI, while Bloom finished 3-for-5, picking up singles in each of his first three at bats. Paine extended his hitting streak to 14 games with his RBI single in the seventh.
The Dons were led by Derek Poppert, who went 3-for-5 on the game, while Mahood finished 1-for-4 with two RBI following his second home run of the season.
Sacramento State returns to action on Monday, April 13 as they host the San Francisco State Gators. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. from Hornet Field.
SAN FRANCISCO - The Sacramento State baseball team got three hits apiece from freshman 
