SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jakob Poturnak and Ryan Christiansen each had three hits but Sacramento State could not answer a late-game push by Ball State in a 13-10 loss to the Cardinals in the final game of a four-game series on Saturday at John Smith Field. The Hornets dropped to 4-4 on the season while BSU improved to 4-3. The two teams split the series, with each winning twice.

Sacramento State had a great start to the contest, scoring three runs in the first inning and four in the second to take a 7-0 lead. The Hornets chased the Ball State starter before the first inning ended as JP Smith had a run-scoring double, a run scored on a wild pitch and Christian Perez added a bases-loaded walk.

The team more than doubled its lead in the next frame with the help of another bases-loaded walk from Smith, a single from Poturnak and a sacrifice fly by Cameron Sewell.

That lead, however, was only able to last until the fifth inning as the Cardinals erupted for two runs in the third, four in the fourth and three in the fifth to take a 9-7 lead. The big blows came from Ty Davis and Blake Bevis who had three-run home runs in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively. Ball State was also helped by five Hornet errors in the game resulting in six unearned runs.

Christiansen finished the game 3-for-6 and raised his average to .364 on the young season. Poturnak was 3-for-5 and delivered his third home run of the year with a solo shot in the eighth inning. Sacramento State also had multi-hit games from White and Sewell.

Sacramento State will remain at home for a four-game series against South Dakota State beginning on Wednesday at John Smith Field at 6 p.m.