BASEBALL DOWNED BY CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE, 6-4, ON OPENING DAY

2/17/2012

Jesuit HS grad Justin Higley went 2-for-3 with a triple but the Hornets lost to CSUN.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento State baseball team scored once in the bottom of the ninth but could not complete a comeback against Cal State Northridge on opening day, losing 6-4 to the Matadors on Friday afternoon at John Smith Field.

The Hornets (0-1) were led by sophomore center fielder Justin Higley, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, a triple and a pair of walks. The Matadors (1-0) received two RBIs from third baseman Brett Balkan and two runs from first baseman Marty Bowen.

Sacramento State starting pitcher Hunter Greenwood kept the Hornets in the game until Cal State Northridge posted two runs (one unearned) in the sixth which broke a 2-2 tie. First baseman Clay Cederquist hit a ground out which drove in Higley in the seventh to cut the CSUN lead to just one run but the Matadors got to Sacramento State reliever Brandon Creel for two runs in the top of the ninth.

Senior Derrick Chung scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth but, with the bases loaded, the Hornets flew out to right to end the game.

Greenwood took the loss and ended up allowing three earned runs (four total) on six hits in six innings with one strikeout. Creel allowed two runs on three hits in three innings with three strikeouts.

Cal State Northridge starting pitcher Alex Murren earned the victory after giving up three runs on four hits in 6.2 innings with two strikeouts. Cole Hallum recorded the save after surrendering one run on five hits in 2.1 innings.

Game 2 of the series is at 1 p.m. tomorrow and game 3 is also at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Hornets will throw right-hander Tanner Mendonca tomorrow and right-hander Zach Morgan on Sunday.

Cal State Northridge 6, Sacramento State 4 (Feb 17, 2012 at Sacramento, Calif.)
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Cal State Northridge  010 102 002 - 6 9 0 (1-0)
Sacramento State.... 010 010 101 - 4 9 0 (0-1)
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Pitchers: Cal State Northridge - Muren, Alex; Hallum, Cole(7). Sacramento State -
Greenwood, Hunter; Creel, Brandon(7).
Win-Muren, Alex(1-0) Save-Hallum, Cole(1) Loss-Greenwood, Hunter(0-1) T-2:42 A-323
Weather: 62 degrees, sunny, no wind