HORNETS POUND OUT 15 HITS AND LIVELY EARNS FIRST CAREER SAVE IN 13-4 WIN OVER JACKS

2/18/2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A strong outing by freshman starter Trevor York, and a lineup that executed down the stretch, led the Hornets to a 13-4 victory over South Dakota State on Sunday afternoon at Hornet Field.

The win was the first for Sacramento State (1-7) this season, after solid outings on the mound from York, and junior relievers Tyler Axelrod and Mitch Lively.

The Hornet hitters did not have an extra-base hit the entire game, but instead executed aggressive base running and took advantage of all the Jacks’ defensive miscues. The Hornets went through eight pitchers from South Dakota State’s staff, totaling a season-high 13 runs on 15 hits.

It was the decisive sixth inning when the Hornets took control and the lead for good. After right-hander Tyler Axelrod came in relief of York and recorded three outs aided by his infield defense, Sacramento State entered the bottom of the sixth trailing 4-3. With one out on the board, true freshman centerfielder Tim Wheeler was hit by a pitch, followed by a Travis Kirkman single that put runners into scoring position for senior second baseman Patrick Cummins. The Walla Walla, Wash., native lined a one-run single into right field as Wheeler used his speed to beat a throw at the plate and scored the tying run.

Sophomore shortstop Blake Crosby, who moved into the second spot of the lineup and led the team with a 3-for-6 and three-RBI performance, produced the game-winning RBI with a single to center that scored Kirkman. After a Ryan Blair ground out advanced runners to second and third, junior designated hitter Wes Oberlin hit a two-out, two-run single up the middle to give the Hornets a 7-4 edge.

Sacramento State then let 6-foot-5 right-hander Mitch Lively do the work the rest of the way. The Susanville, Calif., native earned the first save of his career, pitching the final three innings and surrendering just two hits to South Dakota State.

After Cummins helped turn a double play in the top of the seventh, the Hornets added to their 7-4 lead with a six-spot in the bottom of the inning. Once again, Wheeler reached base with one out by way of a walk. The 2006 El Camino High School graduate was 1-for-3 on the day, scoring a game-high three runs. The South Dakota State pitching staff walked a total of five batters in the game, and followed Wheeler’s walk by walking Kirkman and Cummins to load the bases.

Crosby did the best with his bases-loaded opportunity, hitting a two-run single to the right center gap. Blair followed Crosby with a one-run single to score Cummins. With Crosby and Blair on the bases, Oberlin was walked to again load the bases for junior third baseman David Flores. A two-run line drive single to left gave Flores his two RBIs on the day in a 2-for-4 performance. Later in the inning, Oberlin scored the sixth and final run after Montana Dye dropped a single to right in front of Nick Adams.

Dye finished his day 3-for-5 with two RBIs, and now leads the team batting .393 on the season with a team-best .469 on-base percentage. Blair continues to lead the team with nine RBIs.

Sacramento State had an initial 3-1 lead after four, but it was erased as South Dakota State added three runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Jake Rogers once again led the Jacks with a 2-for-5, two-RBI day. Craig Parry and Tim Hanigan each produced two hits and one RBI.

The Hornets three runs in the fourth inning came after some aggressive base running. Two outs didn’t slow sophomore first baseman Gabe Jacobo, who got things started with a single to right. The Tulare, Calif., native stole second and alertly moved to third on a throwing error by catcher Tony Martin. Dye’s hard hit single to Rogers allowed Jacobo to score. Wheeler then dropped a single over Rogers’ head to leave two runners on the corners for Kirkman. Wheeler, one of the fastest players on the roster, picked up the first stolen base of his young career allowing Kirkman to hit a two-run single with the count full. Kirkman, a Sierra transfer JC was 2-for-4 on the day with two runs scored.

Caleb Thielbar allowed three runs on six hits in the start for South Dakota State, but it was Christian Larson (0-2) who took the loss after allowing four runs on three hits in relief.

Sacramento State remains at home next week, hosting San Francisco State at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20. The Hornets will then play four games in the River City Classic, beginning at 2 p.m. on Thursday at UC Davis. The team will then have three consecutive 2 p.m. start times at Hornet Field, beginning on Friday with San Francisco, Saturday with Saint Mary’s, and Sunday with defending NCAA champion Oregon State.