Senior Joe Evans |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento State scored two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning in game two and senior Joe Evans combined to go 6-for-8 with three home runs and nine RBIs as the Hornets spit a baseball doubleheader with Washington State Saturday afternoon at Hornet Field. The Cougars won the first game, 8-4, before the Hornets took the nightcap, 11-10, in 10 innings.In the second game, the Hornets trailed, 10-9, entering the bottom of the 10th inning. With runners at first and second base and two outs in the 10th, Cougars reliever Billy Gorrell got Keith Carson to strike out swinging, but the ball got away from catcher Zach Franklin to load the bases with two outs. Senior Chris Kinsey followed with an infield single scoring pinch runner Clint Honeycutt to tie the game. On the first pitch to ensuing Hornet Matt Wilson, another wild pitch allowed Chris McCormack to score from third with the game-winning run.
Washington State (10-7) had erased a 9-6 deficit in the top of the ninth inning with three runs, and added another in the 10th on a Wes Falkbenborg RBI-single. Similar to the Hornets'' 10th inning, Washington State''s ninth also featured a strike out-wild pitch allowing the inning continue.
Sacramento State (11-7) erased an early 6-1 deficit by chipping away at Cougar starter Garrett Alwert, finally taking the lead in the seventh on a three-run homer by Evans. The senior catcher finished the nightcap 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, two runs scored and six RBIs. Evans also hit a two-run blast in the third inning.
The Hornets and Cougars combined for 21 runs and 29 hits in the game as nine different players had at least two hits, including a 4-for-5 performance by Washington State''s Evan Hecker. Kinsey, who started the game at pitcher for the Hornets, finished 3-for-5.
Gorrell (0-1) picked up the loss, allowing two runs and two hits in 3.1 innings of work. Sacramento State reliever Jeff Groeger (4-1), who earlier blew the save, picked up the win allowing two runs and four hits in 1.2 innings.
In the opener, Washington State scored four times in both the fourth and eighth innings, and rode the strong performance of starter Brandon Hundt (4-0) to an 8-4 victory. Hundt, who threw 101 pitches, was pulled after eight innings despite allowing just four hits. Sacramento State scored four times in the bottom of the ninth off Cougar relievers Lanakila Niles and Gorrell. Three of the four runs came on a home run by Evans.
Eight Cougars collected at least one hit in the contest and six notched RBIs, including Bookie Gates'' second home run of the season in the eighth inning. Hundt retired the side in order on five occasions. Sacramento State starter Marshall Plouffe (1-2) got the loss, allowing nine hits and seven runs (six earned) in 7.2 innings of work. Evans finished the game 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBIs.
Hornet shortstop Tito Barba suffered a hamstring injury in the bottom of the eighth inning in game one after trying to leg out a ground ball. He did not return. Sacramento State''s Tim Reimer suffered the same injury yesterday as he and Barba are both out indefinitely.
Sacramento State, which has now won four of its last five games, returns to action on Tuesday, March 12, as it travels to San Jose State.
