SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State let a three-run lead in the seventh inning slip away, and eventually fell in extra innings to Central Michigan, 8-4, on Thursday morning at John Smith Field.
The game was moved ahead to a morning start to avoid the expected rain. That was a good move as rains hit the Sacramento area about 60 seconds after the game concluded.
The loss dropped the Hornets to 8-5 while Central Michigan improved to 7-6. The two teams began a four-game series yesterday with a 5-3 Sacramento State victory. The Hornets and Chippewas will attempt to play on Friday and Saturday, but the status of those games are up in the air because of the expected inclement weather in the Sacramento area.
Things looked good early when a two-run homer in the fourth from freshman
Wehiwa Aloy, and a
Carson Blatnick RBI-double in the sixth gave the Hornets a 3-0 lead. Aloy has now hit safely in each of the first 13 games of his collegiate career.
However, Central Michigan got a two-out grand slam from first baseman Danny Wuestenfeld in the top of the seventh to take a 4-3 lead. The Hornets tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI-groundout from Aloy scoring
Jorge Bojorquez.
Sacramento State had plenty of opportunities to score more runs, but stranded 11 runners on base, including multiple runners in the fourth (3), fifth (2) and 10th (2) innings.
After Central Michigan scored four times in the 10th, the Hornets threatened in the bottom half. Sacramento State loaded the bases with one out, but Chippewas' reliever Nate Ross got a double play to end the game.
Of the Hornets' 11 hits, four came from
Gunner Gouldsmith and two from
Jeffery Heard. Aloy finished with three RBIs. Sacramento State starter
Jasper Nelson was impressive, allowing just three hits with seven strikeouts in 4.1 innings. The Hornets used relievers
Max Pettey,
Tyler Stewart,
Noah Lucchesi and
Conor Hourigan.
Ross got the win for Central Michigan, allowing three hits and no runs over three innings. Lucchesi took the loss for Sacramento State.
