Hornets baseball snaps 12-game winning streak in 14 innings against Pacific

State Hornet Staff

Sacramento State’s baseball team had its 12-game winning streak snapped in heartbreaking fashion Tuesday against the University of the Pacific in Stockton.

Sac State’s run of 12 consecutive victories was the longest active streak in all of NCAA Div. I baseball, and the second longest in program history (16 in 1992).

The Hornets (20-12, 9-0) held a 7-3 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning, only to see it evaporate when Tigers outfielder Gio Brusa belted a grand slam off of freshman Chad Perry to tie the game.

The game remained even until the top of the 11th when Sac State sophomore outfielder Nathan Lukes hit an RBI single to give the Hornets the lead.

The Tigers (15-19, 5-7) rallied once again in the bottom of the inning when outfielder Tyler Sullivan notched an RBI single of his own, tying the game at eight.

Things were quiet until the bottom of the 14th when Tigers outfielder Taylor Murphy homered off Hornets senior pitcher Hunter Greenwood to give Pacific the walk-off victory. Greenwood has dropped to 0-3 on the season.

Murphy was 0-6 prior to his dramatic home run. Pitcher John Jaeger got the victory, going four innings while giving up one earned run and striking out two.

Sac State’s starting pitcher, right-hander Dallas Chadwick, lasted just 2.1 innings, allowing three earned runs and walking four.

Pacific starting pitcher Michael Benson struggled as well, allowing four earned runs while walking three batters in four innings of work.

Lukes led the way for Sac State with a game-high three hits, going 3-for-6 at the plate, including his RBI single in the top of the 11th. Hornets’ senior third baseman Will Soto collected two hits and two RBIs.

It was the second time in the past three games that the Hornets played extra innings, getting their own walk-off win in 15 against Seattle University back on Saturday.

Sac State will continue its road trip when it heads to Phoenix to take on Grand Canyon University for a three-game series starting on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Brazell Stadium.