Sacramento State left fielder Gary Johnson’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning at Hornet Field Sunday gave the Hornets a winning weekend, as the team opened up Western Athletic Conference competition by taking two of three from Nevada.

The Hornets improved to 13-20 on the season and 2-4 in the WAC.

After splitting the first two games, the Hornets and the Wolf Pack squared off Sunday in a dramatic rubber match. With the score tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth, Sac State shortstop Everett Rincon drew a one-out walk and stole second base.

With the winning run in scoring position, Johnson, who had already singled and scored a run earlier, hit a blooper off a two-strike pitch down the right field line for the game winner. The Hornets had carried a 4-3 lead into the 8th inning, when Nevada first baseman Terry Walsh tied the game with a long home run to left-center.

The Hornets scored two runs apiece in the third and fifth innings, with catcher Buddy Morales leading the team with two hits and two RBIs. Rincon, who scored the game-winner, also singled, drew two walks, and crossed the plate three times.

Hornet pitcher Cyrus Sarraf (1-2) wriggled out of a two-on, one-out jam in the top of the ninth to earn the win and set up Johnson’s heroics in the bottom half of the inning.

Rain washed out the first game of the series, which had to be continued as part of a double-header on Saturday, as the Wolf Pack cruised to an easy 7-3 win over the Hornets, scoring three runs in the ninth to cement the victory.

The Hornets showed signs of life by scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but still fell short. Brian Blauser and Montana Dye both knocked in runs with a double and a single, respectively.

Sac State had much better success in the nightcap, coming from behind to win 7-5.

The Hornets jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the second inning, as a home run by third baseman David Flores was followed by four hits, including RBI singles by Patrick Cummins and Morales. Nevada quickly came back with two runs each in the third and fourth innings to take a 5-4 lead. The Hornets, though, displayed their resiliency by tying the game in the fifth and going ahead to stay an inning later.

Cummins led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, went to third on a throwing error and a fielder’s choice, and scored on Kyle Atrat’s sacrifice fly. Sac State went ahead the next inning on an RBI single by Johnson, and added an insurance run in the seventh on a homer by Morales.

Sac State had 13 hits in the game, including three apiece by Johnson and Morales, and two more by Cummins and Flores. Hornet reliever Justin Deme (2-4) earned the victory with two and a third scoreless innings in relief of starter Mick Joyce.

The Hornets will play three games at New Mexico State this weekend.

Paul Rice can be reached at [email protected]