Tanner Mendonca earned his first career save with four no-hit innings in game one.
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - The Hornets' pitching dominated game one but the Matadors' hitting reigned supreme in game two as the Sacramento State baseball team split a doubleheader versus Cal State Northridge on Friday afternoon at Matador Ballpark. The Hornets took game one, 3-1, but lost game two, 13-7.
Andrew Ayers shined in the doubleheader. The sophomore had five hits, three RBIs, two runs and did not strike out in eight at-bats combined in the two games.
The Hornets' record now stands at 5-15 while the Matadors are 12-8 on the season.
The final contest of the three-game series will start at noon tomorrow.
GAME ONE RECAP: W, 3-1 Starter James Chamberlin and reliever Tanner Mendonca combined to allow just one run and issued just one walk while the Hornets' hit four doubles in game one.
Chamberlin (1-1) earned his first win of the season, allowing one run on seven hits in five innings with one strikeout and one walk. But it was Mendonca's role in relief that sealed the victory for the Hornets. The freshman from Visalia, Calif., pitched four no-hit innings with one strikeout and no walks. He faced just 13 batters while recording 12 outs (one HBP).
Cal State Northridge starter Vince Roberts (0-4) took the loss.
The Hornets first scored in the second inning. Derrick Chung doubled down the left field line and moved to third on David Del Grande's single. Chung then scored on Andrew Ayers' double down the right field line.
Sacramento State added two more runs in the fifth. Blake Miller hit a lead-off single and moved to second when Justin Higley drew a walk. With two on and no outs, Jake Chilton smacked a double down the right field line to score Miller. A wild pitch in the next at-bat brought home Higley from third.
The Hornets had four players record two or more hits.
Sacramento State 3, Cal State Northridge 1 (Mar 18, 2011 at Northridge, Calif.) (Game 1) ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sacramento State.... 010 020 000 - 3 10 1 (5-14)
Cal State Northridge 000 010 000 - 1 7 0 (11-8)
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Pitchers: Sacramento State - Chamberlin, James; Mendonca, Tanner(6). Cal State Northridge -
Roberts, Vincent; Juarez, Ryan(7).
Win-Chamberlin, James(1-1) Save-Mendonca, Tanner(1) Loss-Roberts, Vincent(0-4) T-2:21 A-280
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 70s
GAME TWO RECAP: L, 12-7 Cal State Northridge started strong and finished strong in game two.
The Matadors came out firing, with a four run first inning, keyed by Steven Keller's two-RBI single through the right side.
But after Andrew Ayers' solo home run in the second, the Hornets tied up the game with a three run third. Eli Davis led off with a double to left center before former Jesuit High School standout Justin Higley hit his first collegiate home run with a blast to left center. The Hornets were not done after the home run, as David Del Grande walked and eventually, after two more walks and a CSUN pitching change, came around to score from third on a bases loaded walk to Hunter Adrian.
Cal State Northridge scored in the bottom of the third to retake the lead and the two teams traded single runs in the fifth inning before the Matadors blew open the game with three more runs in the sixth and four runs in the eighth. TS Reed smacked a three-run home run to fuel CSUN's big eighth inning.
Reliever Jacob Petersen (3-0) earned the win for Cal State Northridge and Josh Goossen-Brow recorded his fourth save of the season. Andrew Galvan (0-5), making his first start of the season, took the loss for Sacramento State. Galvan allowed six runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings with four walks and no strikeouts.
Cal State Northridge 13, Sacramento State 7 (Mar 18, 2011 at Northridge, Calif.) (Game 2) ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sacramento State.... 013 010 110 - 7 12 0 (5-15)
Cal State Northridge 401 013 04X - 13 14 2 (12-8)
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Pitchers: Sacramento State - Galvan, Andrew; Creel, Brandon(5). Cal State Northridge -
Muren, Alex; Petersen, Jacob(3); Fredrickson, Trevor(7); Muren, Drew(7); Goossen-Brown, Josh(8)
.
Win-Petersen, Jacob(3-0) Save-Goossen-Brown, Josh(4) Loss-Galvan, Andrew(0-5) T-3:21 A-261
HR SAC - Ayers, Andrew (1); Higley, Justin (1).
HR CSUN - Reed, TS (1).
Weather: Clear skies, 70s
Petersen faced 3 batters in the 7th.
