The Sacramento State baseball team narrowly lost its sixth consecutive game by a score of 2-1 in its home opener Friday against South Dakota State University. The Hornets (0-6) let the game slip away in the eighth inning, despite getting a strong performance from the pitching staff.

The Jacks (2-2) were able to manufacture the winning run in the eighth inning as a result of heads up base running and two defensive miscues by Hornets catcher Travis Kirkman.

South Dakota State left fielder Korby Mintken, who reached base with a one out single, was able to get over to second when he successfully executed a delayed steal, catching Kirkman out of position to make a strong throw to second. Mintken then advanced to third on a pitch from junior transfer Tyler Axelrod that was scored a wild pitch.

Mintken came around to score the winning run when Jacks right fielder Nick Adams hit a slow grounder to second with men on the corners. The Hornets nearly turned two to get out of the inning unblemished, but Adams was just able beat the throw to first.

Starting pitcher and first year transfer Alvaro Orozco gave the Hornets a solid performance, scattering just five hits with no runs through the first five innings.

In the top of the sixth, however, he allowed the Jacks to get men on first and second with one out before being relieved by senior Cyrus Sarraf. Jacks Shortstop Jake Rogers, who led off the sixth with a single, eventually came around to score on a sacrifice ground ball to second tying the game at one.

Orozco was frustrated with the loss saying that he would have liked to have helped the team get over the hump and get that first win behind them, but he says that the mood on the team remains optimistic.

The Hornets have started the season hot offensively going into Friday’s game with a team batting average of .282 and averaging five runs per game. Friday marked the first consistent performance from the pitching staff.

“It’s crazy the way we’ve been going,” Orozco said. “When we have hitting going we don’t have pitching, when we have pitching we don’t have hitting, and when we have hitting and pitching we don’t have defense.”

The Hornets will try to get their first victory and even the series at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Hornet Field.