MEZZANERAS DRIVES IN FOUR BUT BASEBALL FALLS IN FIRST GAME OF SERIES TO NEW MEXICO STATE

4/22/2010

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Senior Justin Mezzaneras went 3-for-5 with four RBI, but the Sacramento State baseball team gave up seven runs over the final two frames, falling to the New Mexico State Aggies by a score of 11-4 on Thursday, April 22.

With the loss, the Hornets fall to 14-19-1, 3-2 inside of Western Athletic Conference play, while the Aggies improved to 28-12-1, 6-2-1 in WAC action.

New Mexico State opened the scoring in the top of the first, as with two down Chris Auten hit a two-run homer to center field, giving the Aggies a 2-0 lead.

The Hornets struck back with two of their own in the bottom of the second, as after junior Jake Chilton walked to lead off the inning, Mezzaneras homered to deep left field, his third of the season, to tie the game at 2-2. Auten quickly untied it in the top of the third, hitting a one-out solo home run to right field to give New Mexico State a 3-2 advantage.

The Aggies lead increased to 4-2 in the top of the fourth, as Parker Hipp connected on a solo home run, his first of the season, to right field. The Hornets got the run back in the bottom of the fifth, as with runners on first and third and two outs, Mezzaneras doubled to left center, scoring junior Trevor Paine to pull the Hornets to within a run at 4-3.

The score would remain the same until the top of the eighth, when the Aggies added a pair of insurance runs on a two-run single by Wesley Starkes, making the score 6-3. New Mexico State would go on to score five additional runs in the top of the ninth, increasing their lead to 11-3 entering the bottom of the ninth. The Hornets loaded the bases with nobody out, but could only muster a RBI single by Mezzaneras with one out, making the final score 11-4.

Senior Robert Butler (1-1) picked up the loss for the Hornets, allowing four runs on five hits, walking two and striking out two in five innings of work. Justin Cooper (4-0) remained unbeaten on the season, allowing three runs on five hits in seven innings, walking six and striking out five.

Mezzaneras collected three of the Hornets six hits and all four of the team's RBI on the day. Chilton, sophomore Justin Lamb and Paine were the only other Hornets with hits on the day. Auten led the Aggies with a 3-for-4 day with three RBI and four runs scored, while Hipp went 2-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored.

The two teams will play game two of the series on Friday, April 23. First pitch from Hornet Field is scheduled for 2:30.