BASEBALL FALLS, 7-5, IN SERIES OPENER AT LOUISIANA TECH
4/6/2012
Rhys Hoskins hit a two-RBI double in the third but the Hornets lost at La Tech on Friday.
RUSTON, La. - The Sacramento State offense accumulated nine hits but it wasn’t enough as the Hornets dropped their first Western Athletic Conference game of the year, 7-5, to Louisiana Tech at J.C. Love Field.
The Hornets (14-16, 0-1 WAC) lost the opening game of a series for the first time in over a month as the Bulldogs (16-14, 1-0 WAC) jumped on normally stellar Sacramento State starting pitcher Tanner Mendonca.
Mendonca (4-4), who entered the game with a 4-3 record and 2.52 ERA, took the loss after giving up seven runs (five earned) on 11 hits in 4.2 innings. Sophomore Hunter Greenwood allowed just one hit in 3.1 innings of relief but the Sacramento State offense could not overcome the early deficit.
The Hornets took the lead, 5-2, after scoring three in the third inning and two in the fourth. The advantage was short-lived, however, as the Bulldogs tallied five runs in the fifth and held on to that two-run lead for the final four innings.
Louisiana Tech starting pitcher Jeb Stefan allowed five runs on eight hits in six innings while relievers Jamie Gilley and Caleb Dudley combined to throw three scoreless.
Freshman Rhys Hoskins brought a team-high 12-game hitting streak into the series and went 1-for-4 with a team-high two RBIs. Sophomore Justin Higley had two hits, both doubles, and two walks while freshman Scotty Burcham smacked a single and a double.
Shortstop Ryan Gebhardt paced the Bulldogs with three hits, including a solo home run in the third. The Bulldogs had three other players tally two hits.
The second game of the series is at 1 p.m. PT tomorrow with RHP Phil Maton (5-2, 3.07) on the mound for the Bulldogs and freshman RHP Brennan Leitao (2-2, 4.93) throwing for the Hornets.
Louisiana Tech 7, Sacramento State 5 (Apr 06, 2012 at Ruston, La.)
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Sacramento State.... 003 200 000 - 5 9 1 (14-16, 0-1 WAC)
Louisiana Tech...... 002 050 00X - 7 12 0 (16-14, 1-0 WAC)
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Pitchers: Sacramento State - Mendonca, Tanner; Greenwood, Hunter(5) and Chung, Derrick.
Louisiana Tech - Stefan; Gilley(7); Dudley(9) and Qualls.
Win-Stefan(2-5) Save-Dudley(6) Loss-Mendonca, Tanner(4-4) T-2:31 A-945
HR LATECH - Gebhardt (1).
Weather: 85 degrees
Stefan faced 1 batter in the 7th.
