SACRAMENTO — Opening day for the Sacramento State baseball team did not quite go as planned on Friday at John Smith Field as the Hornets dropped both ends of their doubleheader to visiting Loyola Marymount by the scores of 4-0 and 12-10 in 11 innings.
Six different Sacramento State hitters finished with base hits on the day, led by three from senior Gunner Gouldsmith, but it was newcomer Matt Masciangelo who was — pardon the pun — a "hit" on Friday in his Hornet debut as the newcomer was hit by a pitch seven times in eight plate appearances, collecting three in the doubleheader opener and four more in the nightcap before leaving the game following a spectacular diving catch in the eighth inning.
The last time Sacramento State had a player hit by a pitch at least three times in a single game was Aaron Zeidman, who was plunked three times against Northern Colorado on April 25, 2021. According to available single-game records dating back to 2006, Masciangelo's four HBP's in game two are the most in a game by a Hornet.
With rain in the forecast for Saturday, the two teams are scheduled to complete their three-game series on Sunday (Feb. 18) at 1 p.m. Please check HornetSports.com for schedule updates as they become available.
GAME 1: LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 4, SACRAMENTO STATE 0
The Lions scored single runs in the third, fourth, sixth and ninth innings while four pitchers combined to hold the Hornets to just two hits en route to a 4-0 victory in the season opener for both teams.
Senior
Cesar Valero had a double in the fourth for the first Sacramento State hit of the year, while Gouldsmith added a single in the sixth, but that was all the Hornets could muster against LMU.
The Lions opened the scoring with an RBI double by Khadim Diaw in the third, doubled their lead on a home run to right center by Brendan Bobo, tacked on another thanks to a throwing error in the sixth, and capped the scoring with a single by Sam Biller in the final inning.
Starter Owen Hackman (1-0) struck out 10 over 5.1 innings of work, allowing only the two hits and walking one before giving way to the bullpen where three relievers combined to strike out four while facing just one over the minimum over the final 3.2 innings.
Tyler Stewart (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing two earned over five innings and striking out seven.
Cooper Rons struck out two and scattered two hits over his two scoreless innings, while
Brady Chavez and
Andrew Monson made their Hornet debuts, throwing an inning each.
GAME 2: LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 12, SACRAMENTO STATE 10 (11 INN.)
The Hornets rallied back from a two-run deficit in the middle innings, scoring eight unanswered runs to take a commanding lead, but the Lions put up six in the top of the ninth to force extra innings and scored twice in the 11th to complete the sweep of the doubleheader.
After spotting LMU a run in the top of the fourth, an RBI single by Gouldsmith and a run-scoring double by
Tyler White four batters later gave Sacramento State its first lead of the season. The Lions, however, had an answer, loading the bases in the fifth on a walk, a single, and a fielder's choice.
After a strikeout, Bobo came up clutch once again, lacing a double down the rightfield line to clear the bases and regain the lead for the Lions at 4-2.
The Hornets weren't done, however, starting their string of unanswered runs with a big sixth inning thanks to some sloppiness on the part of the LMU defense. After a double by
Jacob Cortez made it a one-run game, three straight errors by the Lions plated three runs, putting Sacramento State back in front, 6-4.
A run-scoring fielder's choice in the seventh made it a three-run game and the Hornets added three more in the eighth on back-to-back hit batters and a wild pitch for the 10-4 advantage.
That's when it all unraveled for the home team as LMU made its run. A pair of singles and a walk brought up Devan Ornelas, whose sacrifice fly to centerfield got the scoring started. Another walk reloaded the bases for Robbie Ayers, who doubled down the right field line to bring home a pair to make it 10-7.
Following a pitching change, Trey Becker wasted little time in greeting the new Sacramento State pitcher, slugging the first pitch he saw over the wall in left to tie the game.
The Hornets got the winning run to second in the ninth, but could not bring him across, and had the bases loaded in the 10th, but came up empty.
Loyola Marymount took advantage in the 11th as Diego Baqueiro singled to lead-off the inning and, after a failed sacrifice, Sam Biller launched a two-run home run over the wall in right, giving the Lions the lead for good.
Ryan Mullan then came on to shut the door in the home half, retiring the side in order to nail down his first save of the year.
Jeff Heinrich (1-0) earned the win for LMU, throwing two hitless innings of relief, while
Ian Winterhalder (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing three runs in 1.2 innings of work and striking out a pair.
