SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Visiting New Mexico State rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning but Hornet junior Sutter McLoughlin was able to get the last two outs and strand the potential tying run on base for an 8-7 win in the opener of a three-game WAC series at John Smith Field.

Sacramento State (14-10, 4-0 WAC) took an 8-4 lead into the ninth but the inning opened with a walk and a hit by pitch and New Mexico State (4-18-1, 1-2-1 WAC) followed with an RBI single to score one run followed by another walk to load the bases. Brent Hermanussen hit a sacrifice fly to the warning track in left to make the score 8-6 with one away.

McLoughlin, the all-time program leader with 27 career saves, then entered and got a fly ball to center to score another run but record the second out. He then got New Mexico State third baseman Derek Umphres to ground out to shortstop to finish the win.

With his 28th career save McLoughlin is now one save back of the WAC career record of 29 saves, held by Caleb Dudley of former WAC member Louisiana Tech. He was the last of six Hornet pitchers in the game, with the win going to starter Brennan Leitao who allowed three unearned runs on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts over five innings.

The Hornets, who entered the game ranked 13th in the NCAA with a .980 fielding percentage, committed a season-high with four errors in the game, two of which sparked a three-run top of the first inning. The Aggies had just two hits in the inning but through two errors and a batter that reached on a wild pitch after striking out the visitors took an early 3-0 lead.

Sacramento State quickly responded with four runs in the bottom half of the first inning on four singles and three walks but left the bases loaded. The score held until the fourth inning when junior Chris Lewis drove in junior Nathan Lukes with an RBI triple and freshman Dan Deely followed with an RBI double.

The Aggies got one run back in the fifth inning on a solo home run from first baseman Michael Paulson. Again the Hornets responded to a New Mexico State run in the bottom half of the inning as Lewis and senior Scotty Burcham drew walks and junior Dane Fujinaka brought them both home with a double down the right field line.

New Mexico State had hit 1-for-16 in the game with nine runners stranded through the first eight innings before it's uprising in the ninth. The Hornets had a 10-9 advantage in hits and drew seven walks but left nine men aboard themselves.

Fujinaka went 2-for-4 with three RBIs while sophomore Gunner Pollman also had a 2-for-4 day with an RBI. Lewis was 1-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored with Burcham also drawing two walks and scoring twice. Senior Kyle Moses had a leadoff single and scored in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.

Starter Tray Higginbotham took the loss for New Mexico State after allowing seven runs on nine hits and five walks through 5.1 innings pitched. For the Aggies left fielder Daniel Johnson went 3-for-4 with three RBIs hitting in the No. 7 spot and designated hitter Cameron Haskins also had a multi-hit day going 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

Sophomore Sam Long will face New Mexico State senior Riley Barr in game two of the series at 1 p.m. Saturday.