BASEBALL SALVAGES FINAL GAME OF SERIES; DEFEATS UC RIVERSIDE, 5-2
3/11/2012
Freshman starter Brennan Leitao earned his first win after a strong outing at UC Riverside.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The Sacramento State baseball team scored four runs in the third inning and never looked back in taking the final contest of a three-game series at UC Riverside, 5-2, on Sunday afternoon at the Riverside Sports Complex.
The Hornets (6-9) scored five runs on six hits with two errors while the Highlanders (6-9) tallied two runs on six hits and one error. Sacramento State left just two men on base while UC Riverside stranded eight runners.
Sacramento State jumped out to an early lead with a big third inning. Junior Andrew Ayers was hit by a pitch on a 2-2 cout to leadoff and moved to third on sophomore Justin Higley's single to right. Freshman Scotty Burcham singled to left center and drove in Ayers and moved Higley to to third. Freshman Kyle Moses' sacrifice bunt was misplayed by the pitcher and he reached first safely as Higley scored from third. Senior Hunter Adrian dropped down a sacrifice bunt as well, but this time the pitcher threw him out at first but only after Burcham moved to third and Moses to second. Sophomore Will Soto hit a sacrifice fly for the second out of the inning and scored Burcham from third. In the next at-bat, freshman Rhys Hoskins singled to drive home Moses for the final run of the inning.
Adrian hit a solo home run in the eighth to tack on another run before UC Riverside scored twice in the bottom of the inning. But it wasn't enough as closer R.J. Davis came into the game and shut the door.
Freshman Brennan Leitao (1-0), making his first career start, earned the win after giving up just two runs (one earned) on six hits in 7.2 innings with five strikeouts and only one walk. Davis recorded his third save and did not allow a hit in 1.1 innings. Davis has not allowed a hit over in his last 5.1 innings and has given up no runs on just three hits in 10 innings total this season.
UC Riverside starter Travor Frank (0-3) took the loss after allowing five runs (two earned) on five hits in eight innings with four strikeouts.
The Hornets are scheduled to play a five-game series against Dartmouth starting Thursday at John Smith Field. But with rain in the forecast, be sure to check hornetsports.com for any rainout news.
