MESA, Ariz. — Top-seeded Tarleton State scored nine runs in the first three innings to put fourth-seeded Sacramento State in an early hole and the Hornets could not find their way back, falling to the Texans by a 9-0 score on Thursday night at Hohokam Stadium.
Now with its collective backs against the wall, Sacramento State looks to stave off elimination on Friday (May 22) at 3 p.m. PT as it takes on No. 3 Utah Tech, which eliminated No. 5 Abilene Christian on Thursday night by the score of 6-5.
The winner plays immediately after against either No. 1 Tarleton State or No. 2 California Baptist in a second elimination game with the winner advancing to "Championship Saturday."
Wasting little time, the Texans scored five in the first, added a single run in the second, and scored three more in the third en route to the lead before the Hornet pitching staff buckled down. The Sacramento State bullpen allowed only four more baserunners on one hit for the rest of the day — with only one of those reaching as far as second base — and retired seven straight at one point.
The quartet of Adam Enyart, Chase Sorlie, Joey Loubert, and Baylor Sandberg combined for four scoreless innings in that stretch, striking out a pair.
Brett Ott managed the team's only hit of the day, a bloop single down the left field line against TSU starter Cort Lowry, to reach base safely for the 10th consecutive contest, while Ayden Hadley and Jamie Mullin drew walks and Cameron Sewell was hit by a pitch to account for the Hornets' other baserunners.
