A quick Friday afternoon game at John Smith Field between Sacramento State and visiting Cal State Northridge ended in exciting fashion for the Hornets as they walked off  to victory.

With only one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, junior center fielder David Del Grande lined a ball just over the second baseman’s head to give Sac State a 4-3 win. 

“I’ve been seeing a lot of sliders,” Del Grande said. “I was just thinking see it up, and look for something to drive.”

The Hornets scored the first in the bottom of the second inning  when catcher Dane Fujinaka laced a double down the right field line driving in both runners to give  Sac State a 2-0 lead.

Starting pitcher Ty Nichols breezed through the first three innings, but got into trouble in the fourth inning as he gave up the Matadors’ only three runs on three hits and one hit batter. Nichols finished with six innings pitched and received a no decision.

“His stuff wasn’t as sharp as it has been,” said head coach Reggie Christiansen. “He got away with pitches that were hit right at guys who made plays behind him.”

In the eighth inning, Sac State  tied the game up 3-3 on an RBI single from right fielder Nathan Lukes.

Solid pitching from relief pitcher Brandon Creel kept the Hornets in the ball game. After coming in to pitch in the seventh inning, Creel  threw three innings of shut-out baseball while giving up just one hit and earned the win.

“You just have to get three outs at a time,” Creel said. “I’m just that guy that can come in and throw strikes, so I give a chance for them to hit into outs.”

Sac State has now won three games in a row, and seven of its last nine games.

The Hornets will face the Matadors in the second game of the series at John Smith Field on Saturday. 

First pitch is at 1 p.m.

Follow State Hornet Sports on Twitter at @sh_sports