MILLER HOMERS BUT BASEBALL FALLS TO SAN JOSE STATE IN SERIES OPENER

4/30/2010

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Freshman Blake Miller hit a solo homer in the top of the first, but the Sacramento State baseball team fell to the San Jose State Spartans in a run-shortened game 13-1 in seven innings on Friday, April 30.

With the loss, the Hornets fall to 14-23-1 overall, 3-6 in Western Athletic Conference play, while the Spartans improve to 16-23, 4-5 in the WAC.

The game started on a positive note for the Hornets, as with one out in the top of the first, Miller stepped to the plate and belted an 0-2 pitch deep over the left wall for his second home run of the season, giving Sacramento State an early 1-0 lead.

But the positive start was short lived, as San Jose State scored three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-0 lead. The Spartans would go on to score one run in the bottom of the fifth, and nine more in the bottom of the sixth to take a commanding 13-1 advantage. Needing three runs in the top of the seventh to keep the contest going, Sacramento State was put down in order for the first time in the contest, ending the game after six and a half innings and a 13-1 final.

The Hornets put runners aboard in each of the first six innings, but stranded at least one runner from the second thru sixth innings. They finished the contest leaving six runners aboard.

Luke Mazzanti (1-6) got credit for a complete game, allowing one run on five hits, striking out five and walking three batters over seven innings. Sophomore Jesse Darrah (3-4) picked up the loss for the Hornets, allowing 11 runs, eight of which were earned, on eight hits in 5.1 innings of work. In the three innings where the Spartans did not score, Darrah sent them down in order, which included a stretch of four strikeouts over six batters in the third and fourth innings.

Miller finished 2-for-3 with a home run and a single, with one run scored and one RBI. Juniors Jake Chilton and Kirby Young, along with senior Josh Powers, recorded a lone hit apiece for the Hornets. Corey Valine led the Spartans with a 3-for-4 performance on the day, including his third homer of the season, driving in four while scoring three runs.

The two teams will continue the series on Saturday, May 1, with an 11:30 a.m. doubleheader from Blethen Field in San Jose.