Sacramento State allowed defending NCAA champion Oregon State to score 18 runs Sunday to fall to 0-3 in the 2007 River City Classic. The Beavers (11-2) used 17 hits, 11 walks and a grand slam to wallop the host Hornets 18-4.

The 2-10 Hornets, who co-hosted the weekend tournament with UC Davis, were blown out in all three games, losing each by at least nine runs.

Sac State starter Mick Joyce looked to be up for the challenge, allowing just two Beaver base runners and no runs through the first three innings. However, with one out in the fourth, Oregon State designated hitter Dale Solomon hit a hard line drive off of Joyce’s leg that appeared to knock him off his game.

Hornet coach John Smith said that the hard liner likely affected Joyce mentally as well as physically.

“There’s no question that it took him out of his rhythm,” Smith said. “Anytime you take a shot up the middle like that it has an effect on you mentally, it’s just a natural thing.”

Joyce would go on to allow three runs in the inning before being pulled with the bases loaded.

Relief pitcher Cyrus Sarraf came in to face Oregon State shortstop Darwin Barney who capitalized on the opportunity to blow the game open by hitting a grand slam that just cleared the left field fence. Seven of the eight runs scored in the inning were charged to Joyce. With the loss he fell to 0-2 on the year.

Despite scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning, the grand slam proved to be a momentum killer and the 8-0 deficit would prove to be insurmountable for the Hornets.

“That was a heart breaker; we get out of that inning and were right in the game,” Smith said. “It just changed the whole dynamic of the game. That was the worst thing that could’ve possibly happened in that situation.”

The Hornet bullpen, which has been inconsistent since the start of the season, was shaky again on Sunday. Five different Sac State relievers allowed eleven runs over 5.1 innings, not including the three runs scored on the Barney grand slam that were charged to Joyce.

Smith expressed concern for the struggling pen.

“We’re still having a lot of trouble getting our bullpen to come in and complete the deal,” Smith said. “Once we get that straightened out we have a chance to be in the hunt.”

Smith said he was disappointed to have come out of the tournament without a victory, although it was important to get the three games in to prepare the team for the start of WAC competition next week.

The Hornets will play at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Saint Mary’s College before opening WAC play against Louisiana Tech Friday in Ruston La. Louisiana Tech will host the Hornets for a three game weekend series and they currently hold an 11-5 record.