Washington State erased an early 5-0 defecit with three runs in the fourth and five in the fifth as the Cougars defeated the Sacramento State baseball team, 14-5, Saturday evening at Bailey-Brayton Field. The Hornets fell to 30-23 on the year while the Cougars improved to 17-31.Sacramento State captured the early lead after scoring three runs in the first. Senior Tim Reimer led off the inning with a base hit up the middle and then advanced to third after a throwing error by Cougar catcher Jon Baeder during a steal. Junior Cliff Hinkle followed with a base hit to left field to drive in the Hornets'' first run. After junior Mikela Olsen drew a walk from Bryce Chamberlin, junior John Acha followed with an RBI double in the left center gap to put runners on second and third with one out. With junior Chris Kinsey at-bat, Chamberlin bounced a pitch in front of the plate to allow Olsen to score from third.
The Hornets made it 5-0 in the second inning after a two-run single by junior Jesse Schmidt. Sophomore Bret LeVier led off the inning with an infield single to short but was forced at second after a groundout by freshman Jim Strombach. In the next at-bat, Reimer singled through the right side to put runners on first and second with one out. After both runners advanced a base with Hinkle''s groundout to second, Schmidt followed with a single to right to score both runners.
Washington State cut the lead to 5-3 in the fourth after a lead-off homer by Jay Miller to right and a two-run shot over the right-center wall by Wes Falkenborg.
The Cougars took an 8-5 lead in the sixth after a lead-off homer to left center by Grant Richardson, an RBI double by Bruce Jacobsen, a two-run double by Jon Baeder and an RBI single by Miller. For Richardson, it was his sixth-consecutive game with a home run.
Washinton State added another run in the seventh when Baeder drove in Derek Bruce with a single up the middle.
The Cougars scored five more runs in the eigth to make it a 14-5 contest.
Chamberlin (4-5) was credited with the win by allowing five runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out 10 in eight innings of work.
Freshman Mel Cuckovich (0-2) earned the loss after allowing six runs on six hits while walking one and striking out five in 5.1 innings.
Reimer increased hit season-high hitting streak to 11 games after going 3-for-4 in the contest. The San Jose native, who began his streak on April 24, also increased his team-high stolen base total to 24.
The two team will conclude their three-game series on Sunday, May 11, at noon.
