Blake Miller hit two solo home runs on Sunday but the Hornets lost, 8-3, to La Tech.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento State baseball team dropped the final game of a four-contest Western Athletic Conference series and its 2011 season finale, 8-3, to Louisiana Tech on Sunday at John Smith Field.
The Hornets finish the season with a 19-39 (6-18 WAC) record while the Bulldogs wrap up their year with a 32-25 (12-12 WAC) record. Sacramento State will not advance to the six-team WAC Tournament.
Sacramento State managed just five hits in the game, but two were solo home runs by Blake Miller. The sophomore from Salem, Ore., finished the 2011 season with team-highs in batting average (.289), RBIs (30), home runs (7) and slugging percentage (.460).
Miller hit his first home run over the fence in left center on a 0-1 pitch in the first inning and knocked his second of the game on the first pitch of the fourth inning to nearly the same location.
Justin Higley added an RBI single to center later in the fourth, but the Hornets could not add to their total.
Meanwhile, the Louisiana Tech offense exploded for eight runs on 13 hits against five Sacramento State pitchers. Ryan Gebhardt, Colby Johnson, Mark Threlkeld and Joey Ford each had two hits in the game. Threlkeld hit a bomb over the scoreboard in left center in the seventh inning and Alex Williams followed him with another home run for back-to-back jacks.
Sacramento State starter Hunter Greenwood (0-3) took the loss in the game after giving up four runs on six hits in four innings with three walks and one strikeout. Louisiana Tech's Kyle Roliard (1-2) earned the win after allowing three runs on three hits in four innings. The Bulldogs stated before the game that they planned to pull Rouliard in the fourth, allowing him to get the win.
Louisiana Tech 8, Sacramento State 3 (May 22, 2011 at Sacramento, Calif.)
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Louisiana Tech...... 040 001 300 - 8 13 0 (32-25, 12-12 WAC)
Sacramento State.... 100 200 000 - 3 5 3 (19-39, 6-18 WAC)
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Pitchers: Louisiana Tech - Roliard, Kyle; Barrett, Josh(5); Alvis, Will(9). Sacramento State -
Greenwood, Hunter; Adrian, Hunter(5); Lukes, Shea(5); Creel, Brandon(7); Morgan, Zach(8).
Win-Roliard, Kyle(1-2) Loss-Greenwood, Hunter(0-3) T-2:39 A-306
HR LATECH - Threlkeld, Mark (8); Williams, Alex (4).
HR SAC - Miller, Blake 2 (7).
Weather: 70 degrees, overcast
Greenwood faced 1 batter in the 5th.
