DEL GRANDE HOMERS BUT BASEBALL DROPS SERIES FINALE TO UC RIVERSIDE
2/27/2011
James Chamberlin pitched 3.1 strong innings of relief but the Hornets could not rally to beat UCR.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - David Del Grande hit a two-run bomb to left in the seventh inning to cut the Highlanders' lead to just one run, but the Sacramento State baseball team could not complete the comeback and lost the final contest of a three-game series with UC Riverside, 4-3, on Sunday afternoon at John Smith Field.
The Hornets slide to 2-5 after the loss while the win evens up UCR's record at 4-4.
The Hornets were down 4-1 in the seventh after the Highlanders knocked in three in the top of the sixth. UC Riverside starter Trevor Frank had allowed just one hit and one run in the previous six innings but, with two outs, he hit third baseman Blake Miller with a pitch which brought Del Grande to the plate.
On the first pitch of the at-bat, Del Grande, a redshirt freshman, connected with a blast that easily cleared the left field fence. It was Del Grande's first career home run and the first for the Hornets this season.
James Chamberlin, who came in to relieve starter Dallas Chadwick, pitched 3.1 strong innings. Chamberlin allowed no runs, only three hits and struck out three as well but the Hornets could not capitalize on his effort.
It looked promising in the top of the eighth inning when Andrew Ayers banged a leadoff double to left, but UC Riverside pulled Frank for reliever Mark Garcia, who retired three-straight batters to get the Highlanders out of the jam.
UC Riverside closer Mitch Patito earned his third save of the season after shutting down the Hornets in the ninth inning.
Frank (1-0) earned the win for UC Riverside while freshman Chadwick (0-1) took the loss for Sacramento State.
As a team the Hornets had four hits, two walks and struck out four times. The Highlanders posted eight hits, one walk and struck out five times.
Sacramento State will be back in action at John Smith Field on Sunday, with a 2 p.m. first pitch scheduled against rival UC Davis. The Hornets took 2-of-3 from the Aggies in the season-opening series.
