UC Santa Barbara scored the contest’s first run after a fielding error by freshman Brian Blauser in the fifth. Matt Stevens opened the inning with a base hit up the middle and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by C.J. Cook. Matt Wilkerson followed with a slow chopper to first that Blauser attempted to backhand in the hole but knocked to ball towards second base. Sophomore Everet Rincon ran over from short but could not get Stevens at the plate.

Sacramento State answered back with two runs in the sixth after RBI base hits by junior Jesse Schmidt and Mikela Olsen with two outs. With one out, junior Cliff Hinkle hit a single to left field and moved to second on a groudout to second by Rincon. Hinkle moved to third on a wild pitch by Posthumus and then scored on Schmidt’s single to center. Schmidt had fallen behind Posthumus (1-2) but managed to work the count full and fouled off four-consecutive pitches before tying the contest. After Schmidt moved to second on another wild pitch by Posthumus, Olsen followed with an RBI single to right field to make it 2-1.

The Gauchos regained the lead 3-2 after a throwing error by sophomore Bret LeVier and an RBI single by Nic Rodriguez. Kinsey opened the inning by walking Wilkerson and Taylor Vogt before sophomore Warren Rosebrock entered the contest with no one out. Rosebrock gave up a single to Chad Ziemendorf to load the bases and then gave way to freshman Mel Cuckovich. With the infield drawn in, Bill Rowe hit a sharp grounder to LeVier at third. LeVier knocked the ball down but his throw home was off line allowing Wilkerson to score. Rodriguez followed with a base hit to right field to give the Gauchos the lead. With runners on first and second, Cuckovich ended the threat by getting Matt Emerick to hit into an inning ending double play.

The Hornets evened the score at 3-3 after an RBI single by Olsen with two outs. Hinkle started the inning with a single to left field and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rincon. With two outs, Olsen lined a single to right field to score Hinkle.

UC Santa Barbara recaptured the lead, 4-3, with Wilkerson’s single in the eighth. Josh Fulton opened the inning with a base hit and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Stevens. Cuckovich put runners on first and second after hitting Nate Sutton then gave way to junior Dan Smith. Smith allowed Wilkerson’s hit before ending the inning with consecutive strikeouts.

Kinsey earned a no-decision after allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out seven in six innings of work. Cuckovich (0-1) was charged with the loss despite allowing only one run on two hits in one and one-thirds innings. Hinkle and Olsen (two RBI) led the Hornet offense.

Sacramento State and UC Santa Barbara will play the rubber game of the series on Sunday, March 2, at 1 p.m.

Sacramento State (8-7) 000 002 010 - 3 7 3

UC Santa Barbara (7-9) 000 010 21x - 4 9 3

WP - Ivan Ramirez (2-0)

LP - Mel Cuckovich (0-1)

SV- Steve Morlock (2)

Chris Kinsey, Warren Rosebrock, Mel Cuckovich, Dan Smith and Corey Watts. Eric Posthumus, Ivan Ramirez, Steve Morlock and Chad Ziemendorf. TOP HITTERS- SAC- Cliff Hinkle 2x5, Mikela Olsen 2x4. UCSB-Matt Stevens 2x2, Matt Wilkerson 2x4.

---30---