A.J. Nunez scored on a squeeze bunt and laid down one of his own in the Hornets' game one win.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento State baseball team split a Western Athletic Conference doubleheader with San Jose State on Saturday at John Smith Field. The Hornets took game one, 2-0, in seven innings while the Spartans won game two, 5-4.
Sacramento State's record now sits at 15-30 (2-9 WAC) while San Jose State holds a mark of 29-16 (8-7 WAC).
The opening game of WAC doubleheaders is always seven innings.
The two teams will conclude their four-game series at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Sacramento State 2, San Jose State 0 (Apr 30, 2011 at Sacramento, Calif.) (Game 1) ----------------------------------------------------------------------
San Jose State...... 000 000 0 - 0 2 1 (28-16, 7-7 WAC)
Sacramento State.... 000 011 X - 2 7 0 (15-29, 2-8 WAC)
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Pitchers: San Jose State - Guzman, Esteban. Sacramento State - Sandoval, Brandon.
Win-Sandoval, Brandon(2-2) Loss-Guzman, Esteban(5-2) T-1:52 A-431
Weather: 69 degrees, strong NNW winds
GAME 1 RECAP: Sacramento State starting pitcher Brandon Sandoval pitched a two-hitter and the Hornets' offense perfectly personified "small ball" baseball as successful suicide squeeze bunts in the fifth and sixth innings were the difference in the Hornets' 2-0 victory in game one.
Sandoval (2-2) was fantastic, allowing no runs on two hits with four strikeouts and two walks. With the help of two double plays, Sandoval faced just two over the minimum in his complete game shutout.
In the fifth inning, after a strikeout to lead off, A.J. Nunez singled to short and then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. After Jake Chilton walked, Eli Davis executed a perfect bunt down the first base line and Nunez beat the throw home for the Hornets' first run of the game.
In the sixth inning the same scenario played out, with Hunter Adrian scoring on Nunez's sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher.
The Hornets scored two runs on seven hits and did not commit an error in the opening game of the doubleheader.
San Jose State 5, Sacramento State 4 (Apr 30, 2011 at Sacramento, Calif.) (Game 2)
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San Jose State...... 100 103 000 - 5 8 3 (29-16, 8-7 WAC)
Sacramento State.... 100 000 300 - 4 8 1 (15-30, 2-9 WAC)
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Pitchers: San Jose State - McFarland, Blake; Austin, John(7); Jones, Zack(7).
Sacramento State - Chadwick, Dallas; Galvan, Andrew(6); Lukes, Shea(8); Chamberlin, James(8).
Win-McFarland, Blake(6-2) Save-Jones, Zack(9) Loss-Chadwick, Dallas(2-5) T-3:18 A-519
HR SJSU - Borg, Nick (3).
Weather: 75 degrees, sunny, clear
GAME 2 RECAP: The Hornets nearly staged a late inning comeback but they could not overcome San Jose State's three-run sixth inning despite a three-run seventh inning of their own.
San Jose State led 2-1 after shortstop Nick Borg smashed a home run through the strong wind to right field. The Spartans extended their lead with a three-run sixth inning.
The Hornets answered with their own three-run seventh inning but it wasn't enough.
Brent Hottman led off the seventh with a walk and moved to second after Kirby Young was also walked. Jake Chilton followed with a double to right that scored Hottman from second and advanced Young to third. Hunter Adrian loaded the bases when he drew the third walk of the inning. David Del Grande's fielder's choice ground ball scored Young from third but Chilton was out at third on the play. Now with Del Grande at first and Adrian at second, the pair pulled a double steal but the pickoff throw got past the third baseman for an error and Adrian came around to score. But San Jose State reliever Zach Jones got Dax Turner swinging to end the inning and get the Spartans out of the jam.
San Jose State starter Blake McFarland (6-2) earned the win after allowing one run (none earned) on five hits in six innings with two walks and four strikeouts. Jones pitched the final 2.2 innings for his ninth save of the season.
Sacramento State starter Dallas Chadwick (2-5) took the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
There were a combined seven hit batters in the game.
