SANTA CLARA, Calif. – With the game tied at one in the ninth, pinch-hitter Matt Smith delivered a go-ahead RBI-double, helping lift the Hornets to a come-from-behind, 2-1 win, Friday night at Santa Clara.

The win is Sacramento State's sixth of the year as the team improves to 6-3 overall. Santa Clara falls to 3-6 with the loss.

The Hornets did all of their scoring late on Friday, putting their first run on the board in the top of the eighth inning. With his team trailing 1-0, Steven Moretto tied the game with a soaring solo home run, his first of the season.

Just one inning later, Matt Smith put the Hornets ahead with his pinch-hit RBI-double into the right-center gap. The at-bat was Smith's first of the year as the senior has been slowly working his way back into the lineup following a minor injury just before the start of the season.

Smith was only in the position to help his club after Martin Vincelli-Simard put himself on second base with a one-out double of his own. Simard was lifted for a pinch-runner, Isaiah Parker, who scored easily on Smith's double.

The pinch-hit double from Smith was the latest in a recent trend of clutch pinch-hit at bats by the Hornets. In nine pinch-hit opportunities, the Hornets are 4-for-8 with a triple, three doubles, three RBIs, and a walk. 

Buying the Hornets offense enough time to find their way to two runs Friday night was a trio of Sacramento State pitchers, headlined by starter Scott Randall, who was excellent against the Broncos. Randall tossed a season-high seven runs, most by Hornets pitcher this season, and allowed just one run.

The lone Santa Clara run came in the bottom of the first inning, a solo home run off the bat of the Broncos' all-time home run leader, Jake MacNichols. 

In addition to the first-inning home run, Randall allowed six other hits for a total of seven in the outing. The right-hander did not walk a batter and struck out five in what was ultimately a no-decision.

The WAC's Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Randall is 1-0 through three starts this season. He's thrown 17.0 innings and owns a 2.12 ERA and a 14:1 K:BB ratio.

Jack Zalasky took over for Randall in the eighth and earned the win, improving to 2-0 on the season. Zalasky struck out one in a perfect eighth inning. He was followed by Hornets' closer Stone Churby, who punched out two in the ninth to record his WAC-leading fourth save of the season.

In a team-leading five appearances, Churby has thrown five innings, allowed three hits, and struck out 10 without walking any. 

Friday night's win was Sacramento State's fourth come-from-behind victory of the season.

After dropping Thursday night's series opener to snap their win streak at four, the Hornets will have an opportunity to start a new streak tomorrow night, again at Santa Clara. 

First pitch for Saturday night's game is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will again stream live online on the WCC Sports Network. Direct links for video, live stats, and more can be found online on HornetSports.com.