Baseball earns split with Wolf Pack

Andrew Eggers

The Sacramento State baseball team split a WAC doubleheader against the Nevada Wolf Pack today at Peccole Park.

Trailing 5-4 going into the bottom of the ninth inning of the first game, Nevada relied on back-to-back RBI singles that made for a dramatic win. With one out and the bases loaded, junior Jeff Roth (2-3) allowed Matt Bowen to hit a walk-off single down the right field line on a 2-2 count.

Nevada’s Kyle Howe (8-1) notched the win, throwing a complete game and allowing four earned runs on six hits.

Senior Wes Oberlin’s solo home run in the second frame was his eleventh of the season. Senior David Flores hit two singles in three at-bats and was the only Hornet to collect two hits in the game.

The Hornets more than doubled their hit total in game two as they pounded 14 hits en route to a 13-4 victory.

With a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning, the Hornets broke the game open with a five-run outburst. Junior Gabe Jacobo hit a two-run double and Oberlin followed with a two-run single. Jacobo drove in six runs during the game as he also had an RBI single in the sixth inning and three-run home run in the eighth. He now has 13 home runs this season.

Junior left-hander Brian Smith (4-1) had a strong performance on the hill for the Hornets, pitching seven innings while allowing three earned runs. He struck out four hitters, but did surrender five walks, and earned the win.

The split moves the Hornets’ conference mark to 12-14 (21-29 overall) while the Wolf Pack stands at 17-10 inside the WAC and 30-20 overall.

The two teams will face off again for the final game of a four-game series at 2 p.m. Sunday at Peccole Park.

Andrew Eggers can be reached at [email protected]