SACRAMENTO — Junior Tyler White finished 2-for-4 at the plate in support of a strong outing by senior right-hander Evan Gibbons, but seventh-inning solo home run by visiting California Baptist accounted for the only run of the game as the Lancers edged the Hornets, 1-0, on Friday evening at John Smith Field.
Sacramento State fell to 13-18 overall and 5-8 in Western Athletic Conference play, while CBU improved to 18-12 and 7-3 in league with the win.
Gibbons (1-4) suffered the loss despite a stellar outing on the mound, throwing a career-high eight innings while allowing a single run on four hits and striking out six. He allowed only one baserunner to reach second base in his first six innings and stranded four baserunners overall while posting the longest outing by a Hornet starting pitcher since Eli Saul went the distance in a complete-game victory over Grand Canyon on May 6, 2022.
It was the second straight gem thrown by Gibbons, who went seven innings and gave up only one run on three hits in a win at Grand Canyon. Over his last two starts, the Elk Grove, Calif., native has posted a 1.20 ERA and limited opposing hitters to a .156 average (7-for-45).
Sophomore Xavier Richards then came on in relief in the ninth, keeping it a one-run game in his only inning of work by striking out two of the three batters he faced.
White's two-hit game marked his second multi-hit game since returning to the lineup from injury earlier this week and marked his fifth multi-hit game of the year. He is hitting .500 (6-for-12) since his return with three runs scored and an RBI.
His first hit of the day to lead-off the fourth was the Hornets' first hit of the day as they put two on in the inning before a double play ended the threat. Sacramento State also had runners on in the fifth on an Elie Kligman walk and the eighth on a double by Cortez, but could not push across a run. Kligman has now drawn a walk in each of his last nine games and has reached base safely in his last 10 consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, California Baptist was equally unable to break through until the seventh when Mitch Simon took the first pitch of the inning over the wall in right field for the 1-0 lead.
The Hornets tried to put together a rally in the ninth as White led off with a single up the middle and moved to second on a wild pitch after it looked as if Matt Masciangelo had been hit. After being called back to the plate Masciangelo then successfully advanced White to third with one out.
Gunner Gouldsmith followed with a walk and, a few pitches later took off for second base, drawing a throw. However, the CBU second baseman cut the throw off early and fired a strike to home plate, just in time to tag White out attempting to score.
With Gouldsmith now in scoring position, Lancer closer Ryan Hetzler struck out the next batter to end the game and pick up his third save of the year.
Brandon Downer (3-2) earned the win, throwing 8.1 shutout innings while scattering the three hits and striking out seven.
Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday night (April 6) at 7 p.m.
