SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With the threat of rain in the forecast, the Sacramento State baseball team closed the opening weekend of play with a doubleheader on Saturday against UC Irvine, dropping both ends of the twinbill by the scores of 7-3 and 6-2 at John Smith Field.
The visiting Anteaters, who won the Big West Conference regular season title and made their third NCAA Regional trip in the last five seasons in 2025, swept the three-game series from the Hornets following a 5-0 shutout win in Friday's opener. It was sneak peek of a series that will count toward the league standings next season when Sacramento State moves to the Big West beginning with the 2026-27 school year.
The Hornets remain at home for its next four games, hosting Saint Joseph's for a quartet of games at John Smith Field next week. The series opens on Thursday (Feb. 19) with a 6 p.m. first pitch followed by single scheduled games on Friday (Feb. 20), Saturday (Feb. 21), and Sunday (Feb. 22) at 6 p.m., 2 p.m., and Noon, respectively.
GAME 1: UC IRVINE 7, SACRAMENTO STATE 3
The Hornets got another outstanding performance from their starter as junior right-hander Kurt Marton shined in his Sacramento State debut, but a pair of big innings late by the Anteaters lifted them to the 7-3 victory in the day's first game.
Marton, a Roseville, Calif., native who spent the last two seasons at UC Riverside, faced just two batters over the minimum on the mound, allowing just two hits over six shutout innings, striking out six without a walk in an 81-pitch no-decision.
He matched UC Irvine standout Ricky Ojeda (1-0) nearly pitch for pitch as the reigning Big West Pitcher of the Year allowed three hits over six shutout innings of his own, striking out eight without walk.
The Anteaters finally broke through with a single run in the seventh against the Sacramento State bullpen as a bases-loaded ground ball off reliever Trevor Wilson (0-1) was enough to push home the go-ahead run and give UC Irvine a 1-0 lead.
After the Hornets went down in order in the home half, the Anteaters broke the game wide open with a six-run eighth, taking advantage of a one-out error to plate three more on singles, a fourth on a sacrifice fly, and another two on walks for a 7-0 advantage.
Sacramento State finally found a groove in it's last at-bats — all coming with two outs. Jacob Cortez walked and moved all the way to third on a double by Cameron Sewell. Following a walk to Nikhil Beasley to load the bases, Brett Ott plated the Hornets' first run of the year with a walk to break up the shutout.
After a pitching change, two more runs came home on an error that would have ended the game, giving Sacramento State life. Reliever Tim Grack, however, induced a game-ending ground ball four pitches later to end the game.
Sewell finished 2-for-3 to lead the Hornets' offense, while freshman Sam Harry collected his first collegiate hit. Junior right-hander Raul Valdivia also shined in his debut on the mound, working around a trio of walks while allowing only one hit in 1.1 shutout innings to close out the day.
GAME 2: UC IRVINE 6, SACRAMENTO STATE 2
This time, it was Sacramento State's turn to jump out quickly against its future conference rivals, scoring a pair of runs in the second inning to take the early lead.
Jacob Cortez led off the frame with a single and hustled his way to third on a single by sophomore Orlando Cobarrubias to put two in scoring position. A wild pitch plated Cortez to break the scoreless deadlock and newcomer Ayden Hadley notched his first RBI as a Hornet with a ground ball to the right side to score Cobarrubias for the 2-0 lead.
UC Irvine wasted little time in answering, scoring twice in its half of the third without the benefit of a hit to tie the game, A hit batter and a pair of walks loaded the bases with two outs before a ground ball that should have ended the inning was throw away, allowing a pair of runners to score and make it 2-2.
Hornet pitchers carried the no-hitter into the sixth before Zach Fjelstad broke up the combined bid with a sharp double inside first base bag. A sacrifice moved him to third before a single to right centerfield by Alonso Reyes broke the tie and gave UCI the 3-2 lead.
A sacrifice fly in the eighth made it a two-run game, leaving the door open for the the Hornets, but they would get no closer, stranding a pair in the home half before a wild pitch and an RBI single by the Anteaters in the ninth put the game out of reach.
Carson Timothy, who was making his Sacramento State debut, charged with a pair of unearned runs and striking out three without allowing a hit over the first three innings. Ian Winterhalder (0-1) allowed one run on two hits and struck out three over the next three innings before four pitchers combined to close out the contest.
Cobarrubias finished the day 2-for-4 with a run scored while five other Hornets collected hits.
Finnegan Wall (1-0) earned the win for UCI in relief, allowing one hit over 2.2 innings, while Peyton Rodgers picked up his first save with 2.2 shutout innings, scattering three hits and striking out one.
