In its first game of the 2005 River City Classic, Sac State didn’t quite live up to the mini-tournament’s “classic” title.

The Hornets lost the opening game of the weekend round robin to the St. Mary’s Gaels by the score of 6-2.

The Hornets, who have scored 10 runs in the first innings of this early season, didn’t jump out on top early against the Gaels.

St. Mary’s got the offense rolling early with two runs in the top of the first.

Sam Carter hit a two-run homerun to left-center, scoring Cody Nelson.

Ethan Katz served up the homerun, the first two runs he had allowed this season. Katz’s rocky first inning was a precursor for innings to come.

In the bottom of the second, however, Sac State got one of those runs back.

Brian Conradi led the inning off with a triple to the gap in right. Two batters later, shortstop David Flores singled him home with a soft base hit to left field.

But back came St. Mary’s, as they put up another run in the third thanks to Bryan Byrne’s RBI single, making the score 3-1.

Carter was once again at the center of the offense for the Gaels, this time in the fifth inning. Carter picked up another RBI with a blooper to right field. Katz couldn’t make it out of the inning, as he was pulled after four and one-third innings, giving up six runs on eight hits, striking out five and walking two.

St. Mary’s opened the flood gates up a bit after Katz departed. James Wheeler got the ball for the Hornets, but immediately surrendered Delaney Gallagher’s single up the middle that scored two more runs for the Gaels, making the score 6-1 after the top half of the fifth inning.

In the bottom half of the sixth, though, Sac State would inch closer, getting a run back off Gael pitcher Kevin Trochez.

Left fielder Josh Levin made the score 6-2 with an infield single, scoring first baseman Brian Blauser, who slid home just out of the reach of the Gael catcher.

Trochez had baffled the Hornets all game long, effectively changing speeds with his fastball and changeup, keeping Sac State off balance the entire afternoon.

“I think they were saving him for us,” Blauser said.

Both the Gaels and Hornets remained scoreless the rest of the afternoon, making the final score of Friday’s game, 6-2.

“We only had the leadoff hitter on twice, we jumped at pitches and we could never figure their guy out,” coach John Smith said. “Tomorrow we’ll be ready and we’ll come out with more intensity.”

The Gaels had been winless up to Friday’s game, losing their first four games of the season.

“They (Sac State) had chances to score against us late in the game, but it was good to see our guys hold them down to get this first win,” St. Mary’s coach Jedd Soto said.

The Hornets will play the second game of the River City Classic tomorrow at Hornet Field at 2 p.m. against the University of San Francisco Dons.