SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The San Francisco State baseball team stepped out of conference on Tuesday, suffering a 10-3 setback on the road to Division I Sacramento State at Hornet Field. The Hornets (11-15-1) capitalized on four Gator errors in the third inning to build a 4-0 lead they would not relinquish, while limiting SF State (17-21) to just four hits on the afternoon en route to the victory.

 

The game was scoreless into the bottom of the third when Sac State's Justin Mezzaneras reached on a bunt single and quickly advanced to second on an errant pick-off attempt. Kyle Baskett stepped up to the plate and threaded a single through the right side, taking second base on an outfield miscue as Mezzaneras raced home with the game's first run. Baskett moved to third on a wild pitch and scored moments later on Andrew Ayers' single to left. After a flyout, Ayers stole second and advanced to third as the throw from home went awry. Kirby Young followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Ayers, while Josh Powers got aboard courtesy of the Gators' fourth error of the frame. Trevor Paine then gave the host school a four-run cushion with an RBI single to left, scoring Powers, who previously stole second as well.  

 

SF State fought back with three runs in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to 4-3. Drew Andersen (Gilroy, Calif., William Penn Univ.) led off with a single and, after a strikeout, advanced to third on Kevin Dultz's (Altadena, Calif., Glendale CC) ninth double of the season. A Ryan Williams (Woodland, Calif., Yuba College) groundout then brought in Andersen as Dultz motored around to third. Shortly thereafter, Greg Kline (Las Vegas, Nev., San Joaquin Delta College) was hit by a pitch, Sean Proni (Valencia, Calif., College of Marin) singled home Dultz with a base hit to center, while Brian Bianchi (Los Altos, Calif., College of San Mateo) soon followed with another RBI single to plate Kline.

 

The Hornets stretched the margin back to four in the bottom of the frame, however, as Mezzaeras walked, while Baskett and Blake Miller followed with RBI doubles sandwiched around a pop-out. Miller scored moments later on a Young triple down the right field line.

 

Sac State then added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to forge a 9-3 advantage. With two outs, Miller reached on a bunt single, while Powers was hit by a pitch. Shortly thereafter, both runners raced home when Young stroked a 2-2 pitch to right field for a double.

 

Young, who went 3-for-4 with five RBI, accounted the final run of the contest in the eighth when he doubled for the second time on the afternoon, knocking in Powers, who earlier hit a two-out single.

 

Robert Butler (1-0) earned the victory, giving up three runs on four hits, while notching six strikeouts in eight innings. Butler retired 15 of the final 16 Gators he faced, before yielding to reliever Jason Hampton to start the ninth. Meanwhile, SF starter AJ Comaskey (Fresno, California, Central)(0-4) absorbed the loss after allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits in three innings of work, before giving way to four relievers.