MORAGA, Calif. — Bryan Byrne finished with two home runs and three RBI to help lead Saint Mary’s to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over the Sacramento State baseball team, Saturday afternoon at Louis Guisto Field. The Hornets fell to 6-5 on the year while the Gaels raised their record to 3-7.Saint Mary’s got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth when Byrne hit a two-run home run over the right field fence. James Gaulke led off the inning with a single and was advanced to second on a groudout to third by Tim Spooner. Byrne then connected on a pitch by junior Chris Kinsey to give the Gaels an early 2-0 lead.
Sacramento State answered with four runs in the fourth on an RBI groundout by senior Corey Watts, an RBI single by senior Tim Reimer and a two-run home run by junior Cliff Hinkle. Junior Jesse Schmidt led off the inning with a base hit through the right side. With one out, freshman Brian Blauser hit a single to left field and both runners advanced on a fielding error by Preston Young. Watts then grounded out to second to score Schmidt and Reimer hit a slicing fly down the rightfield line for a single to score Blauser. Hinkle followed with an opposite field home run to left to give the Hornets a 4-2 lead.
Saint Mary’s cut it the lead to 4-3 after Mike Harris scored on an RBI single by Adam Bellows. Harris began the inning with a walk and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Sansoe. Harris advanced to third on a single by Gilbert Gil to left field and then scored on Bellows’ base hit to through the left side.
The Gaels tied the contest in the sixth when Byrne hit a lead-off home run to left field. Saint Mary’s took the final lead of the contest in the seventh when Sansoe scored on a sacrifice fly by Bellows to rightfield.
Eric Bowden (1-2) earned the complete-game victory for the Gaels after allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out seven and walking none.
Kinsey (1-2) received the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out two and walking one in seven innings of work. Sophomore Warren Rosebrock finished the contest for the Hornets with a perfect inning of relief in the eighth.
The Hornets and Gaels will complete their three-game series at Hornet Field on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 1 p.m.
Sacramento State (6-5) 000 040 000 - 4 7 0
Saint Mary’s (1-3) 000 211 10x - 5 8 2
WP - Eric Bowden (1-2)
LP - Chris Kinsey (1-2)
Eric Bowden and Nick Conte; Chris Kinsey, Warren Rosebrock, and Corey Watts.
TOP HITTERS- SMC- Brian Byrne 2x3, 2 HR, Mike Sansoe 2x2, Gilbert Gil 2x4. SAC - Cliff Hinkle 2x4, HR.
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