SACRAMENTO -- The Sacramento State offense slugged three more home runs and had the tying run at the plate in the ninth, but the Hornets could not complete the comeback in their Western Athletic Conference series opener against UT Arlington on Friday night, falling to the visiting Mavericks by a 9-7 score at John Smith Field.
The loss evened Sacramento State's record at 17-17 overall, but dropped the Hornets to 5-8 in league play. UTA improved to 18-16 overall and 8-5 in league, collecting 15 hits on the night.
Sacramento State's three home runs — a two-run shot by Jeffery Heard, a solo home run by Martin Vincelli-Simard, and a two-run blast by Cesar Valero — gave the Hornets 48 home runs for the season in 34 games and marked the fifth time in the last nine contests that they have slugged multiple home runs in a game.
Taking advantage of an error that extended the second inning, it was Heard's home run that got the home team on the board first, clearing the black "batter's eye" in right field for a 2-0 lead. It was the sophomore's fourth of the season and his first since April 1 at Stephen F. Austin.
The Mavericks halved the Hornets' lead with a run in the third, then took the lead for good with four runs in the fifth, but Sacramento State kept answering the bell. Vincelli-Simard's seventh home run of the year cleared the wall in left and Josh Rolling added a sacrifice fly to score Heard, who doubled then moved to third on a wild pitch, to make it a one-run game once again.
Two more RBI singles by UT Arlington pushed the lead back to three, but Valero tied it with one swing of the bat with two outs. Jorge Bojorquez reached on a one-out single and moved to second on a wild pitch before Valero left the yard over the left field wall for his sixth of the year to make it 7-6.
UTA wasn't done, rebuilding its lead to three with a pair of runs in the seventh, but Sacramento State continued to rally. A single by Valero and a double by Vincelli-Simard put two in scoring position and Valero would eventually come home on a walk pitch to make it 9-7. With the tying run at the plate, the Mavericks worked away from further danger, getting a pop-up to the infield to end the game.
Valero, Vincelli-Simard, and Heard all finished with two hits on the night and combined to drive in five of the team's seven runs, while Valero crossed the plate three times.
Noah Lucchesi (3-4) suffered the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out five over 4.1 innings. Gabe Starks (4-0) remained unbeaten on the year, allowing four earned on five hits, but struck out eight without a walk over six innings of work. Gray Bailey picked up his third save of the year, allowing a run on two hits and striking out one in the ninth.
Game two of the series is scheduled for 2 p.m. at John Smith Field.
