Eli Davis (above) makes a diving catch for the last out in the top of the 10th inning. With two outs in
the bottom of the inning Davis scored the game-winning run to give the Hornets a 3-2 victory.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - With two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, shortstop Kirby Young smacked a single through the right side of the infield, scoring centerfielder Eli Davis from third base and the Sacramento State baseball team knocked off rival UC Davis, 3-2, on Monday afternoon at John Smith Field.
The Hornets improve to 2-1 with the win while UC Davis falls to 1-2. The teams meet for the fourth and final game of the series at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1, at John Smith Field. The all-time series between the two schools, in the Div. I era, is now tied up, 31-31.
Sacramento State was up 2-1 heading into the ninth inning, but UC Davis was able to tie up the game. After the Hornets struck out the first batter in the inning, designated hitter Scott Lyman, who also started the game on the mound for the Aggies, singled to center field. Corbin Cutshaw, in to pinch run for Lyman, advanced to second on a wild pitch and move to third after a ground out. Just one out away from losing the game, pinch hitter C.J. Blom singled to left and Cutshaw scored from third. But reliever Steven Amaral was able to get out of the inning and pitched a scoreless top of the 10th before the Hornets were able to end the game in the bottom of the inning.
Davis led off the inning with a single against UC Davis reliever Nathan Slater and advanced to second on the play after a fielding error by the center fielder. The Aggies made a pitching change, pulling Slater for Tom Briner. Briner got Carter Loud to strike out swinging for the first out of the inning and struck out Andrew Ayers for the second out. But Davis advanced to third on a wild pitch during Young's at-bat and Young lined a single between the first and second baseman for the game-winning run.
Dallas Chadwick earned the start for the Hornets and pitched five solid innings, allowing just one run on three hits with one strikeout and one walk. Brandon Creel was also fantastic in middle relief, giving up just one hit while striking out a pair in 3.1 innings of work. Amaral earned the win after he surrendered only one hit in 1.1 innings to close out the game.
Lyman pitched seven strong innings for UC Davis with two runs, four strikeouts and two walks. He also went 2-for-3 at the plate and is hitting .556 through three games.
Nathan Slater took the loss for the Aggies as he was tagged for one run and two hits in two innings.
The Aggies committed three errors in the game, while the Hornets were flawless in the field.
