SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento State baseball team makes a trip to its sixth different state this season, winging its way to the "Lone Star State" for a three-game weekend series against Western Athletic Conference rival UT Arlington. Due to the potential for weather in the area, the series has been adjusted to a doubleheader on Friday (May 3) at Noon PT and a single-game finale on Saturday (May 4) at 9 a.m. PT.
PLAY BALL!
WHAT: Sacramento State ( 21-25, 9-12 WAC) at UT Arlington (18-27, 12-9 WAC)
WHEN: Friday-Saturday, May 3-4, 2024
TIME: Noon PT (DH) / 9 AM PT
WHERE: Arlington, Texas
STADIUM: Clay Gould Ballpark
FOLLOW:
Game 1 - WAC Digital Network | Live Stats
Game 2 - WAC Digital Network | Live Stats
Game 3 - WAC Digital Network | Live Stats
GAME NOTES: Sacramento State | UT Arlington | Western Athletic Conference
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS
• UT Arlington enters the week with an 18-27 overall record and a 12-9 mark in Western Athletic Conference play, standing in sixth place and three games ahead of the Hornets in the standings
• The Mavericks has lost two straight and five of their last six after dropping 2-of-3 in a non-conference series against Houston last week and a midweek loss at Baylor on Tuesday
• Eight of UTA's 18 victories have come at home this season as this weekend marks the Mavericks' first home games since a 3-1 loss to Baylor on April 16
• Senior outfielder Tyson Pointer leads the offense, batting .317 with an .887 OPS, scoring 36 runs, slugging seven home runs, and driving in 29
• Junior catcher Parker Airhart leads the team in both home runs (10) and RBI (36) while hitting .285 with a .938 OPS
• As a team, UT Arlington is batting .257 with 29 home runs, but is being outscored by a 273-248 count
• Freshman right-hander Caylon Dygert leads the weekend rotation with a 4-2 record and a 3.44 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP in 73.1 innings
• Dygert has struck out 34 against 12 walks in that span, holding opponents to a .268 average
• Senior right-hander Zach Norris is 4-5 with a 6.99 ERA, striking out a team-high 53 batters against 12 walks over 56.2 innings, but opponents are batting .312 against him
SERIES NOTES
• This weekend marks only the third series between the Hornets and the Mavericks, with UT Arlington holding a 5-1 lead in the all-time series
• However, this weekend marks the first series between the two schools played in Arlington as all six of the previous meetings have been played in Sacramento
• The Mavericks took 2-of-3 from the Hornets last season with Sacramento State winning game two by an 8-3 score while the other two games were decided by only two runs
• In fact, four of the previous six meetings have been played close, decided by two runs or fewer
• The first series between the two came in 2013 as UTA swept a three-game weekend series in mid-May of that year by the scores of 15-7, 3-2, and 6-5
TAKE YOUR TIME
• Sacramento State and Tarleton State decided that nine innings wasn't enough for their series opener last Friday (April 26), going 14 innings over four hours and 12 minutes
• The 14-inning affair is tied for the sixth-longest game in school history according to available records and the longest since the Hornets went 15 innings on May 26, 2018, against New Mexico State
• In terms of time, the 4:12 did not make the top 10, but was the longest of the season by a minute (surpassing the 11-inning game against LMU on Feb. 16) and the longest since going 4:19 on May 19, 2022, against San Jose State
MATT STANDS ALONE
• With one in the series opener against Tarleton State and two more in the series finale, junior Matt Masciangelo now stands alone atop the school's single-season list for being hit by a pitch with 22
• Still with games remaining this year, Masciangelo stands just five HBPs shy of breaking into the school's all-time top 10, closing in on current teammate Jorge Bojorquez, as well as former standouts Steven Moretto (2018-22), Josh Powers (2009-10), and Buddy Morales (2004-06) for a tie for 10th
• His 22 HBPs rank tied for fourth in the nation behind JT Landwehr of Mount St. Mary's (30)
• Masciangelo enters the week leading the WAC, standing four ahead of Utah Valley's Luke Iverson
• Masciangelo had quite a debut in the green and gold, hit by a pitch in eight of his first nine plate appearances during the Hornets' opening weekend
• He was hit three times in the opener against LMU, four more times in game two, and was plunked in his first appearance in the finale
• His four HBP's in game two set a program Division I single-game record
• The performance gained national attention with the video of his first seven HBPs garnering close to 10 million views on social media
BYRD IS THE WORD
• Dating back to the Hornets' game at Stanford on April 16, sophomore Jaxon Byrd has posted hits in six of his last eight games, including the first five multi-hit contests of his career
• The Sacramento native is batting .429 (12-for-28) with six runs, five RBI, and six extra-base hits during that stretch -- including the first two home runs of his career against USC (April 19) and Tarleton State (April 26)
• In addition to his .390 average over 15 games, Byrd is slugging .634 while posting a .458 on-base percentage thanks to six walks
COUNT ON CORTEZ
• Sophomore catcher Jacob Cortez enters the weekend having reached safely in his last 13 games dating back to the series finale at Grand Canyon on March 28
• Cortez has hit safely in 11 of those games, while drawing a pair of walks in the other two
• During that stretch, Cortez is batting .395 (17-for-43) with seven runs scored, three doubles, and eight RBI, while walking six times
• Cortez is currently riding a five-game hitting streak, batting .389 (7-for-18) with a double, two walks, and an RBI in that stretch
CUBBY CAUGHT 'EM
• While showing off his prowess at the plate, Cortez has also done well behind it, entering the weekend ranked sixth in the WAC after throwing out his ninth would-be base stealer of the year on Tuesday against UC Davis
• The nine runners thrown out are the most by a Hornet catcher since Dylan McPhillips erased 10 base runners in 2022
GOOD AS GOLD? NO, "GOULD" IS GOOD
• Senior Gunner Gouldsmith has collected a hit in 12 of his last 14 games with 10 runs, 10 walks, and 12 RBI to go along with five doubles and a home run
• Gouldsmith has gone without a hit in a game only eight times with a team-high 14 multi-hit contests -- a mark he shares with teammate Jorge Bojorquez
• He has also driven in a run in seven of his last 10 games atop the Hornets' lineup
• His 58 hits this season rank seventh in the WAC entering the week -- just nine off the lead -- and are a personal single-season career high (previously 38 in 2023)
• His 18-game hitting streak from Feb. 27 - March 26 is tied for the seventh-longest recorded streak in school history along with Derek Brown (1994) and Blake Crosby (2009)
BASES FOR BOJO
• Not to be outdone, senior Jorge Bojorquez also has a lengthy streak of reaching base of his own, doing so in each of his last 11 contests over the last three weeks
• In that span, he has hit safely in seven of those , including a pair of three-hit performances
• The senior is hitting .333 (13-for-39), scoring 12 runs and driving in seven while walking seven times
MOVIN' ON UP
• After setting the school record for runs scored during the team's Southern California trip -- now up to 151 -- senior Jorge Bojorquez has his sights set on moving up a couple more lists
• With two walks on Tuesday against UC Davis, Bojorquez now has 104 free passes to his name, standing third on the all-time list behind Keith Torres (140 from 2018-22) and Kenny Smallcomb (105 from 1981-82)
• He is one of only four Hornets to reach 100 walks in his career, adding Will Fitzpatrick (103 from 1990-93) to the list
• Bojorquez's 214 career hits now have him ninth on the all-time list, trailing Dawsen Bacho (2017-22) by one for eighth and 12 back of David Flores (2005-08) in seventh
• He is also tied for 10th in career hit by pitches (27)
• He needs three more at-bats, three more games started, and six more doubles to break into those respective top-10 lists
CRUSHING IT
• Sophomore JP Smith's home run against Santa Clara (April 20) was his 16th of the year -- just one off Martin Vincelli-Simard's total of 17 last year
• The 16 home runs are tied for sixth on the school's single-season list alongside Chris Kinsey (2002), Jesse Schmidt (2003), and Mikela Olson (2003)
• An 18th homer this season would be the most by a Hornet since Tim Wheeler hit 18 in 2009
• Combined with his 14 home runs from last season, Smith's 30 career home runs are tied for third on the school's all-time list with Will Fitzpatrick (1990-93), Kinsey (2001-03), Steven Moretto (2018-22), and current teammate Cesar Valero
• Should Smith end the year atop the WAC leaderboard for home runs, he would become only the third Hornet to lead the league, joining a pair of Major Leaguers: Rhys Hoskins (12 in 2014) and James Outman (11 in 2018)
CROOKED NUMBERS
• A five-run first inning in the series finale against Tarleton State on April 28 marked the 18th time this season over 13 games that the Hornets have scored four-or-more runs in a single inning
• However, Sacramento State fell to 11-2 in those games, snapping an 11-game winning streak dating back to a 12-10 loss in the second game of the year against Loyola Marymount
THE ROAD IS WHERE THE RUNS ARE
• Although the Hornets have played nine more games at John Smith Field than away from it this season, the road is where the team's bats have been the strongest
• Sacramento State is hitting .275 in 18 games away from home, averaging 6.1 runs per game while slugging .432 and posting a .366 on-base percentage
• Meanwhile, at home, the Hornets are batting just .241 in 27 games, averaging 5.5 runs per game and slugging .373 with a .348 on-base percentage
• The last time the team went on the road, Sacramento State scored eight runs or more six times during a season-long stretch of nine straight games away from home, scoring 81 total and averaging 9.0 runs per game
• In the previous 33 games, Sacramento State had scored eight-or-more runs in a game nine times, averaging 5.36 runs per contest
PITCHER'S PARK
• However, on the flip side of the above note, the Hornet pitching staff has enjoyed the comforts of home this year
• Sacramento State's staff sports a 4.75 ERA and a .256 average against in 27 home contests, posting 243 of the team's 381 strikeouts
• On the road, the Hornet pitchers have a 5.31 ERA and a .284 average against in 18 games, striking out just 129 hitters
EXTRA, EXTRA!
• Sacramento State has collected an extra base hit in all but four games this season
• The team's 130 combined extra-base hits are fourth in the WAC behind Utah Valley (185), California Baptist (179), and Grand Canyon (156)
• The Hornets rank seventh in the league in doubles (79), fifth in home runs (43) and tied for second in triples with eight
NOTHING FOR FREE
• Either put it in play or head back to the dugout... that's going to be the theme for this weekend's series in Arlington as two of the stingiest pitching staffs when it comes to walks go head-to-head
• The Mavericks rank second in the NCAA in fewest walks allowed per nine innings at 2.91, trailing only Arizona (2.62)
• Meanwhile, the Hornets rank sixth in the nation in that same category at 3.05
• The two staffs rank 1-2 in the WAC in fewest total walks allowed: UTA with 124 and Sacramento State with 139
• The two teams combine for six of the top 13 individuals in fewest walks allowed per game, including the Hornets' Tyler Stewart (6th at 1.82) and Evan Gibbons (12th at 2.11)
• Both Stewart (44th) and Gibbons (84th) rank among the top 100 in the nation individually in that category
"X" GONNA GIVE IT TO YA
• Sophomore right-hander Xavier Richards has allowed only four earned runs on 22 hits -- only four of those going for extra bases -- over his last 29.1 innings (16 appearances) while striking out 32 against 10 walks
• Richards has posted a 1.23 ERA in that stretch while holding opposing batters to a .206 (22-for-107) average
• Opposing hitters are 0-for-21 against Richards over his last three appearances dating back to the weekend finale at USC on April 21
• His 20 appearances are tied for the most in the WAC entering the weekend while also ranking No. 7 in the conference in ERA (2.78), tied for third in fewest runs allowed (11)
SAVING FACE
• Freshman Kade Brown's seven saves this season are tied for the most in the WAC entering the weekend and are the most by a Hornet freshman since Sutter McLoughlin set the school single-season record with 17 in 2013
• Brown needs just one more save to more into a tie for 10th on the school's single-season chart along with Trevor Rodgers (1990), Mitch Lively (2007), and R.J. Davis (2012)
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?
• Brown enters the weekend leading the WAC with a .184 average against in addition to his league-high seven saves
• The seven saves rank tied for No. 21 in the NCAA
• He is tied for seventh in appearances (19) and tied for 13th in strikeouts (a team-high 47 along with teammate Evan Gibbons)
• Brown has allowed only 23 hits in 34 innings of work, good for the fifth-fewest in the WAC entering the week, while his 6.09 hits allowed per game are the second fewest in the conference
• His 12.44 strikeouts per game are fifth in the league
QUALITY YOU CAN COUNT ON
• Senior right-hander Evan Gibbons and junior right-hander Tyler Stewart have become quite the 1-2 punch on the mound for the Hornets
• Gibbons collected his fifth straight "quality start" in the weekend opener against Tarleton State, marking his sixth overall this year and his 11th career
• He has gone at least five innings eight times this season, including a career-high eight innings against California Baptist on April 5
• Stewart narrowly missed out on his fifth of the season, but was still outstanding in game two against Santa Clara, allowing just one run on three hits over five innings, striking out five
GIBB AND TAKE
• Gibbons has been stellar over his last five starts, posting a 3-1 record with a 2.10 ERA and a .156 average against (21-for-135) over 34.1 innings
• His only loss in that stretch was a 1-0 defeat to California Baptist, allowing just one run on four hits over eight innings and striking out six
• In the start before that, he allowed only one run on three hits over seven innings at league-leading Grand Canyon as part of a 5-4 win
• In the process, the senior from Elk Grove, Calif., has lowered his overall ERA nearly three full runs to 4.22 entering the weekend
TYLER TERRIFIC
• Despite suffering the loss in game two against Tarleton State, right-hander Tyler Stewart continues to shine in the weekend rotation
• Three of his four wins on the year have come in his last six starts, where he has posted a 2.10 ERA and holding opponents to a .186 (28-for-123) average
STRIKE THAT
• The Hornets' pitching staff enters the weekend ranked third in the WAC in total strikeouts (381) and fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (8.37)
• Sacramento State's staff ranks 15th in the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.74)
• The 381 strikeouts by the staff this year rank 10th on the school's single season list, while the 8.37 strikeouts per nine innings would stand fourth on the single-season chart
6+4+3=2
• Two more double plays turned on Tuesday against UC Davis gives the Hornets 35 on the year, ranking tied for fifth in the WAC in that category, but only five off the league lead shared by California Baptist and UTRGV
• Sacramento State's defense has turned multiple double plays in a game nine times this season, including three on three occasions against Minnesota (March 2), at Grand Canyon (March 28), and at Oregon (April 10)
• The Hornets rank No. 48 in the NCAA in double plays turned (Michigan leads with 50)
