Box Score SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento State remained undefeated (7-0) in home Western Athletic Conference (WAC) games with a 5-4 win over Chicago State in the series opener Friday afternoon at John Smith Field.
Sacramento State (20-13, 8-2 WAC) also improved to 8-0 all-time against Chicago State (7-26, 1-9 WAC), which held a 2-0 lead into the fifth inning before the Hornets scored once in the fifth, three times in the sixth, and once more in the seventh inning.
The Cougars battled back with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning to make it a one run game, but Hornet senior closer Tyler Beardsley got the last out in the eighth inning and set down the side in the ninth for his WAC-leading seventh save of the season.
Junior Sam Long picked up the win for the Hornets, allowing just two runs on six hits and one walk with two strikeouts over six innings. Chicago State starter Jake Perkins allowed just two base runners through the first four innings but the Hornets got to him after that. He ended up taking the loss allowing four runs on seventh hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six innings.
The game was scoreless into the fourth inning before the Cougars scored a pair of runs on four singles. Sanford Hunt had an RBI single with one away and Julian Russell followed with an RBI single but Hunt was cut down at third on the play by left fielder Chris Lewis to help limit the damage.
The Hornets got on the board in the fifth inning as junior Brandon Hunley had a two-out double and sophomore Bronson Grubbs singled him in. In the sixth inning Lewis led off with a single, senior Trent Goodrich drew a walk, and a wild pitch put runners on second and third with nobody out. Freshman Matt Smith hit a sacrifice fly, Goodrich would score on a single by Andrew McWilliam, and McWilliam came around on an RBI double from junior Gunner Pollman.
Sacramento State had an insurance run in the seventh when sophomore Dan Deely walked, stole second and third, and scored on a throwing error. The Cougars scored twice in the eighth on two singles, a walk, and a Hornet throwing error but could not draw even.
Lewis was 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead the Hornets offensively. The five runs the team scored came from five different players and four had RBIs. Chicago State outhit Sacramento State 9-8 but all nine Cougar hits were singles while the Hornets tallied two doubles.
In game two of the series on Saturday Hornet junior Max Karnos is slated to face Chicago State junior Justin Wyant. First pitch will be at 1:00 p.m.
