SAN FRANCISCO -- Sacramento State rallied to take the lead with two runs in the ninth to erase a late one-run deficit, but a San Francisco run in the home half forced extra innings and the Dons won it on a two-out hit batter with the bases loaded in the 11th for a 5-4 triumph over the Hornets on Tuesday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond in San Francisco.

The loss was the third straight — and the eighth in the last 10 games — for Sacramento State, which fell to 9-8 overall on the year. San Francisco improved to 11-8 overall with the win.

After spotting the Dons a pair of runs in the first, Cesar Valero launched his team-best seventh home run of the season to left in the second inning to halve the USF advantage, and the Hornets took their first lead of the day with single runs in the fifth and sixth thanks to an run-scoring ground ball by Gunner Gouldsmith and Jeffery Heard's second home run of the year for a 3-2 advantage.

The lead didn't last long as the Dons answered with two in the home half of the sixth on a two-run single by Darius Foster for a 4-3 lead, but Sacramento State found a way once again, rallying to regain the lead in the ninth. Josh Rolling and Dylan McPhillips lead-off the inning with back-to-back singles, and there were runners on first and second after a failed sacrifice attempt for Nick Iwasa, who roped a 2-2 pitch to right centerfield to drive home Rolling and tie the game.

Following a strikeout, Jorge Bojorquez dropped another 2-2 pitch into centerfield, this one scoring Keith Torres from second for the 4-3 lead.

Again, San Francisco had an answer with two outs in its half of the ninth as Luke Keaschall singled to lead-off the inning, stole second with one out, and scored on a Harris Williams III single to left to tie the game at five apiece and send both teams to extra innings.

The Hornets had a chance in the 10th, putting two on thanks to singles by Valero and McPhillips and adding another base runner in the 11th on an infield single off the pitcher by Gouldsmith, but coming up empty both times.

A single and a stolen base with one out put a runner in scoring position for San Francisco in the home half of the 11th and an intentional walk put a pair on base before a second strikeout threatened to send the game to the 12th inning. A wild pitch put two in scoring position and another intentional walk loaded the bases for Gabe Giosso, who worked the count full on eight pitches before being plunked, scoring Foster from third with the winning run.

Jack Zalasky (3-2) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out a pair in 2.2 innings. Tyler Stewart started and surrendered two runs on four hits and struck out four in four innings.

Sam Beck (1-1) earned the win, allowing three hits over two shutout innings and striking out a pair.

Four different Hornets finished with two hits on the day, including Valero, who extended his hitting streak to four games along with Gouldsmith. Heard and Valero also collected their fifth multi-hit games of the season, tying Bojorquez for the team lead. After opening the year hitless in his first 12 at bats, McPhillips continued his torrid streak at the plate, finishing 2-for-2 after entering as a pinch-hitter Tuesday and going 7-for-11 (.636) in his last four games with five runs scored.

Sacramento State's five-game road swing continues this weekend, sending the Hornets to the Pacific Northwest for a three-game Western Athletic Conference series against Seattle U on March 18-20 and a single game against Washington on Monday (March 21). Game times against the Redhawks are scheduled for 4 p.m., 2 p.m., and Noon, on their respective days, while the Monday contest with the Huskies is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch.