Derrick Chung drove in two runs on three hits but the Hornets lost at UC Irvine.
IRVINE, Calif. - Despite jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, the Sacramento State baseball team lost, 5-3, to No. 22 ranked UC Irvine on Saturday afternoon at Anteater Stadium.
The Hornets fall to 4-11 on the season while the Anteaters improve to 11-1.
Starter Dallas Chadwick (1-2) took the loss for Sacramento State while reliever Jimmy Litchfield (1-0) earned the win for UC Irvine. Brian Hernandez earned his second save of the season.
Chadwick gave up four runs on five hits in six innings with four walks and four strikeouts. UC Irvine starter Kyle Hooper allowed three runs on six hits in four innings with one walk and one strikeout.
It looked good for the Hornets early.
Jake Chilton led of the game with single to right and Eli Davis followed suit with a single to left. Chilton moved to third Hunter Adrian's fielder's choice grounder but Davis was thrown out at second. Chilton came home on Kirby Young's sacrifice fly to right field before Derrick Chung's double brought home Adrian to give Sacramento State an early 2-0 lead.
The Hornets have outscored opponents 12-10 in the first inning this season but they have not scored more than seven runs in any other inning.
The Anteaters would rally back in a hurry, with Jordan Fox's bases-clearing three-run double in the third inning. Another run in the fourth gave UC Irvine the lead for good, despite the Hornets scoring again in the top of the inning.
Sacramento State had three runs on 11 hits with one error. UC Irvine had five runs on seven hits with no errors.
Davis and Chung led the Hornets with three hits each while the Anteaters got multi-hit games from Fox and Ronnie Shaeffer.
The Hornets and Anteaters will finish their three-game set on Sunday at 1 p.m.
