In a game that featured many bright spots for the Sacramento State baseball team, the end result was because of a lack thereof.

The Hornets and the visiting Washington State Cougars played to a 7-7 stalemate because of darkness; after the bottom of the ninth inning in which Sac State failed to break the tie, it was evident the game would need to be finished the following day before the regularly scheduled 1 p.m. game due to insufficient lighting.

While the night ended on a lackluster note, the game itself was a thriller.

Sac State opened the scoring with three runs in the first inning. Centerfielder Ronnie Machado, Jr. led the inning off with a walk before scoring when first baseman Brian Blauser knocked him in with an RBI groundout.

Designated Hitter Brett Flowers subsequently walked and Matt Wilson followed reaching on an error. This set the stage for junior third baseman Brian Conradi, who cleared the bases with a single up the middle, sending Flowers and Wilson home to make the score 3-0.

Pitcher Ethan Katz was chosen as the opening day starter and he did his part to give the Hornets a chance to win. Katz pitched five scoreless innings, scattering seven hits, while striking out three and walking one.

Even with Katz’ five shutout innings, Sac State couldn’t hold down the Cougars for much longer.

Washington State scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning before the Hornet bullpen could record an out.

Relievers Warren Rosebrock and Mick Joyce faced a combined five batters, retiring none of them.

Cougar Brady Everett homered after teammate Zach Kosturos walked, making the deficit just one run. Jeff Miller then gave Washington State the lead with a two-RBI single.

After the Cougars pushed two more runs across, Justin McAngus added a homerun to left field to put the Cougars up 7-3 in the top of the seventh inning.

Sac State would come back, however, with timely hitting and pinpoint placement.

The Hornets brokethrough two runs in the seventh inning, making the score 7-5.

Machado smoked an RBI double down the left field line and Blauser knocked in a run with an infield single.

In the eighth inning, things got even tighter.

Machado added another RBI double, making him 2-for-4 on the day with two runs and two RBIs. Later, junior right fielder Jim Strombach nudged a blooper down the right field line, perfectly in between the right fielder and the first baseman. That scored pinch runner Darnell Guary, knotting up the score at seven-all.

Neither team could score in the ninth, though, leaving the score tied until both teams resume play on Saturday at 12 p.m.

The regularly scheduled game will begin soon after the completion of Friday’s game, tentatively starting at 1 p.m. at Hornet Field.