SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Cameron Sewell and Elie Kligman each finished with two hits on the day while right-hander Ethan Lay provided the Hornets a "quality start" with five strikeouts over six innings, but Sacramento State could not complete the sweep of visiting UT Arlington as the Mavericks posted a 6-1 win on Sunday afternoon in the finale.

The defeat snapped a three-game winning streak for the Hornets, who fell to 13-10 overall and 2-1 in Western Athletic Conference play. UT Arlington improved to 7-13 overall and 1-2 in league play with the win.

Single runs in the first two innings staked the Mavericks to the early lead before Sewell's double in the fourth plated JP Smith to halve the deficit. UTA responded with another run in the sixth, two more in the eighth, and added another in the ninth to cap the scoring. 

Sacramento State managed baserunners in all but two of the nine innings, but couldn't string the necessary hits together offensively. The Hornets left nine runners on base for the game — five of those in scoring position.

Lay (1-1) suffered the loss despite throwing his third "quality start" of the season, allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings, walking just one and striking out five. 

Starter Joe Steeber (2-2) earned the win, allowing just one run on five hits and striking out three over six innings. Tyler Zahradnik picked up his first save of the year, pitching the final three shutout innings while scattering three hits and striking out five against one walk.

The Hornets host Fresno State in a midweek contest on Tuesday night (March 25) at 6 p.m., before leaving the state of California for competition for the first time in 2025, traveling to Stephenville, Texas, for a three-game conference series at Tarleton State on March 28-30.