SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento State baseball team took on Gonzaga Monday in the fourth and final game over this three-day, three-team series. After battling to a 3-2 lead, a big three-run seventh by the Bulldogs put the game away as the Hornets fell 6-3.

The Hornets struck first, scoring in the first inning against Gonzaga and their starter Mac Lardner. Ian Dawkins led off the game with a walk, later coming around to score on a two-out base hit to left.

Sacramento State added another in the second, scoring their second run of the game on an RBI groundout to shortstop by Josh Urps.

Gonzaga countered in the third however, tying the game at two after a two-run home run by the Bulldogs' Austin Pinorini off Hornets starter Ty Fox.

After losing their two-run lead, the Hornets battled back for another run in the sixth. After Matt Smith doubled, Vinny Esposito drove him home with a base hit to center.

Leading 3-2 in the seventh, Sacramento State turned to their fourth pitcher of the game, freshman Brady Rodriguez. Gonzaga seemed ready for the lefthander, though, scoring a run on a walk, a single, and a double to tie the game. Austin Ragsdale came in, looking to limit the damage, but another hit and an error turned into two more runs for the Bulldogs.

After entering the top half of the frame with a one-run lead, the Hornets found themselves trailing by two and unable to mount a comeback. Gonzaga would add one more in the top of the ninth to make the score 6-3.

Ty Fox got the start for Sacramento, his first of the year, and threw three innings while allowing two runs on three hits and two walks. Last season, Fox appeared in 32 games without a start for the Hornets. Austin Roberts tossed two shutout innings for the Hornets. Both Fox and Roberts have now appeared in five games for Sacramento State.

Smith and Esposito each collected two hits in the loss, as did Steven Moretto and PJ Floyd. Ployd was 2-for-2 after taking over for Urps in the seventh inning.

Monday's game was the last in Sacramento State's round robin weekend series against Milwaukee and Gonzaga. In total, the three teams played five games in three days at John Smith Field start Saturday night.

Sacramento State next plays Thursday and Friday as they travel to Santa Clara for two games. They'll return to John Smith for two more games against Santa Clara on Saturday and Sunday.