SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Junior Ryan Christiansen slugged a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to make the Hornets walk-off winners in the opener while right-handers Evan Gibbons and Kade Brown combined on a three-hit shutout in the nightcap, lifting Sacramento State to a doubleheader sweep of Ball State on Friday at John Smith Field.
The Hornets won the opener by the score of 6-5 before posting a 2-0 victory in game two, improving to 4-3 overall on the year. The Cardinals, who won Thursday's series opener by a 4-3 score, fell to 3-3 on the year.
Sacramento State's last walk-off win via a home run came almost three years ago to the day on Feb. 19, 2022, when Josh Walker slugged a two-run shot to beat Northern Illinois, 2-0, in the night cap of a doubleheader. The shutout in Friday's game two was the first by the Hornets since blanking SeattleU, 6-0, on April 21, 2023.
The two teams meet in the series finale on Saturday (Feb. 22) at 2 p.m. at John Smith Field.
GAME 1: SACRAMENTO STATE 6, BALL STATE 5
The Hornets scored five unanswered runs over the final three innings, punctuated by Christiansen's two-run blast in the bottom of the ninth to lift Sacramento State to a victory in the opener.
Trailing by four runs entering the seventh after an RBI groundout by Elie Kligman broke up Ball State's shutout bid, the Hornets clawed their way back to make it a one-run game with three scores in the bottom of the seventh. A single by Luis Pimentel-Guerrero, a one-out hit by pitch to pinch-hitter Jacob Cortez, and a walk to Tyler White loaded the bases with the heart of the order still to come.
After a Cardinals' pitching change, Christiansen drew a four-pitch walk, driving home Pimentel-Guerrero with the first run. Another pitching change didn't get Ball State out of the inning right away either as junior JP Smith drew a five-pitch walk to make it a two-run game and a passed ball with two outs made it 5-4.
The Cardinals managed only a base hit in both the eighth and ninth innings off relievers Jackson Halverson and Noah Lucchesi (1-0), respectively, setting the stage for the dramatic bottom of the ninth.
White laced a 2-2 pitch to right for a single to chase Lucas Letsinger in favor of Drue Young (0-1), who got ahead of Christiansen in the count. However, the fourth pitch that Christiansen saw proved to be a mistake as the junior cranked his second of the year over the batter's eye in right field for the game-winner, setting off a celebration at the plate.
Senior right-hander
Tyler Stewart started, but earned the no-decision after allowing four runs on seven hits over five innings, but striking out seven without a walk before exiting the game. The trio of
Andrew Monson,
Dylan Torres, and Halverson combined to limit the Cardinals to just an unearned run on three hits over three innings.
Lucchesi allowed a hit and struck out one to pick up his second win in relief this season, facing only three batters.
Pimentel-Guerrero and
Myles Walton each finished with a pair of hits in the game, while White and Christiansen combined for four runs scored and three of the Hornets' five walks in the game.
GAME 2: SACRAMENTO STATE 2, BALL STATE 0
Gibbons (1-1) tied his career high with eight strikeouts over six strong innings for his first "quality start" of the season and sophomore closer Brown allowed just one hit while striking out four over the final three innings for his third save of the year as Sacramento State won a pitcher's duel to sweep the doubleheader.
After retiring the first seven batters of the game, Gibbons allowed only five batters to reach base — two via walks, a pair of singles in the third and fourth innings, and an error in the fifth. However, he stranded four of those in scoring position, including turning away Ball State with runners at second and third in the third inning.
Brown then came on to start the seventh and proceeded to strikeout the side, while getting a pair of ground balls and a pop-out around a walk in the eighth. In the ninth, he allowed a lead-off single, but a gem of a grab by freshman
Michael Perazzo behind the second base bag turned into a double play and Brown caught the final batter looking to end it.
Walks to Cortez and
Orlando Cobarrubias led off the third and both were sacrificed into scoring position by Perazzo. White then hit a ball to the right side, enough to plate Cortez and make it 1-0.
It stayed that way until the home half of the fourth when the Hornets rallied for an important second run with two outs. A single to right by
Cameron Sewell was followed by a
Christian Perez double to left, easily scoring Sewell for the final 2-0 tally.
Four different Sacramento State hitters accounted for the team's four hits on the night, while Cobarrubias finished with two of the team's four walks.
Jacob Hartlaub (1-1) suffered the loss, allowing the two runs on two hits over the first five innings while striking out nine and walking three. Owen Quinn entered in the sixth and finished the game, striking out five while allowing two hits and a walk over the final three innings.
