SOTO'S WALK-OFF HOME RUN CAPS THRILLING COMEBACK WIN, SERIES SWEEP OF SEATTLE U
2/26/2012
Will Soto's three-run walk-off home run gave the Hornets a series sweep of Seattle U.
(Video courtesy of Dave Soto)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -Will Soto smashed a three-run walk-off home run over the right field fence and the Sacramento State baseball team rallied from a five run deficit to win, 8-7, and sweep Seattle U on Sunday afternoon at John Smith Field.
With a two-run lead entering the bottom of the ninth, the Redhawks brought on Brandon Kizer to close out the game. Kizer started the inning by walking Andrew Ayers on four pitches and hitting David Del Grande on his second pitch in the at-bat. Derrick Chung laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners and Seattle U head coach Donny Harrel went to the mound to calm down his closer. It did not work. Kizer's first pitch to Soto was a hanging change-up that the sophomore from Elk Grove, Calif., crushed high and deep to right.
It was the first series sweep by the Hornets since 2009, when they took all four games from Cornell and once again against Menlo College. Last year in Seattle, the Hornets were close to sweeping the Redhawks, taking 3-of-4 games.
Soto's walk-off home run was the first since Brent Hottman, who was catching on Sunday, hit a walk-off grand slam against Fresno State on May 16, 2008, in his freshman season.
In that game against Fresno State, the Hornets scored six runs in the ninth to win 9-8. On Saturday against Seattle U, the Hornets scored six runs over the final four innings to win 8-7.
Sacramento State was down, 7-2, to Seattle U in the bottom of the sixth when Trevor Paine singled in Chung from third to start the rally. In the seventh inning, Ayers doubled to bring Hottman all the way home from first and then Ayers scored on Chung's fielder's choice grounder to second. The Hornets did not score in the eighth inning, but Soto made up for it in the ninth.
The Hornets (4-3) tallied eight runs on 10 hits with no errors while the Redhawks (3-4) posted seven runs on seven hits with no errors.
Sacramento State used seven pitchers in the game and the six relievers combined to allow just two hits over seven innings. However, the bullpen issued eight walks, allowing the Redhawks to score three runs in the sixth inning. Regardless, Sacramento State relievers recorded 5.2 scoreless innings after starter Zach Morgan was pulled after surrendering four runs on five hits in two innings.
Hunter Greenwood (1-1) earned the win after getting the final two outs in the ninth. Kizer (1-1) took the loss.
Ayers went 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs while Paine also tallied two RBIs. Freshman Rhys Hoskins and Del Grande also had multi-hit games. Third baseman Cullen Hendrickson and catcher Brian Olsen each had two hits to lead the Redhawks. Second baseman Trent Oleszczuk and first baseman Zach Aaker both had two RBIs.
Sacramento State will play its first road game of the season at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at Pacific and then travel to No. 22 UCLA for a three-game series next weekend.
Sacramento State 8, Seattle U 7 (Feb 26, 2012 at Sacramento, Calif.)
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Seattle U........... 220 003 000 - 7 7 0 (3-4)
Sacramento State.... 100 011 203 - 8 10 0 (4-3)
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Pitchers: Seattle U - Anderson, Garrett; Yardley, Eric(7); Jones, Blaine(7); Mack, Cory(8);
Kizer, Brandon(9) and Olson, Brian. Sacramento State - Morgan, Zach; Kraemer, Garrett(3);
Adrian, Hunter(4); Nichols, Ty(6); Hoelzen, Tyler(6); Chadwick, Dallas(7); Greenwood, Hunter(9)
and Hottman, Brent.
Win-Greenwood, Hunter(1-1) Loss-Kizer, Brandon(1-1) T-2:55 A-291
HR SAC - Soto, Will (1).
Weather: 59 degrees, sunny, no wind
