Just a day after traveling to Stanford and recording their most impressive victory of the season, Sacramento State (9-16) was dominated at home by the Cardinal 10-0. Stanford (12-9) romped the Hornets to avenge Saturday’s 6-0 shutout loss to earn a share of the series.

“We didn’t play as well today as we did yesterday,” Sac State Coach John Smith said. “Yesterday you would have been in awe, we pushed all the right buttons. But they came back here today on a mission.”

Stanford starter Nolan Gallagher was dominant, allowing just four hits over nine innings with only two Hornets baserunners touch second base on the day. Gallagher’s dominance was mirrored only by the defense behind him. The Cardinal’s fielding was perfect, as they made several impressive stops in the infield and tracked down every ball in the outfield.

“(Gallagher) commanded the game and that’s a result of us going down there and beating them yesterday,” Smith said.

Hornets’ starter Trevor York was impressive to start the game, allowing just one baserunner on an error through the first three innings. However, the Cardinal were able to get to the sophomore, scoring three times in the fourth.

York got into trouble by walking Stanford leadoff man Sean Ratliff to lead off the fourth. Ratliff created havoc on the base path by stealing second and going to third on an overthrow by catcher Travis Kirkman.

Ratliff went on to score the games first run when Stanford’s second baseman Adam Sorgi grounded softly to second. Sac State second baseman Patrick Cummins appeared to have time to gun down Ratliff at the plate but he bounced the throw and Kirkman was unable to handle it.

The Cardinal went on to tag York for two more in the inning to establish a three run lead. York was pulled in the fifth when he loaded the bases, allowing the first three Cardinal to single without recording an out.

Stanford blew the game open, scoring six runs in the fifth against three different Hornets relievers. The 9-0 lead would prove to be plenty for Stanford, as the Cardinal would go on to complete the 10-0 shutout.

The one bright spot on the day for Sac State was the impressive appearance by Mick Joyce. Joyce, who is the Hornets’ usual number two starter, had been shaky in his last two starts due to a strained muscle in his arm. Sunday he gave up just one run over 4.1 innings to keep the game respectable. “That’s the positive spin on today,” Smith said. “We got our weekend guy back and I think he’s healthy and I think he’s ready to go. Maybe we lost the battle, but we might have won the war.”

Sac State will try to salvage the last game of the season series against San Francisco at 2 p.m. Monday in Sacramento. The Hornets will travel to WAC rival Fresno State Thursday and work to hold on to first place in the conference.