Sacramento State came up one run short in its loss to the University of Utah, Monday at John Smith Field in the final game of the season opening series.

The Hornets lost 5-4 to the Utes which gave each team two wins in the series. 

Coming off a walk-off win on Sunday, Sac State once again rallied in the ninth inning starting with junior shortstop Scotty Burcham’s bunt single. With Burcham on second, advancing from a wild pitch, freshman second baseman Brandon Hunley came through with a two-out single up the middle, scoring Burcham and bringing the score within one at 5-4.

A second wild pitch by Utah pitcher Nick Green had Hunley on second base with junior right fielder Nathan Lukes up with a chance to tie the game. Lukes was 1-2 with a walk and came into the at bat going 7-14, all seven hits being singles, in the series. Lukes struck out looking, ending the Hornets’ comeback attempt.

“Four straight one-run games, there’s just too many mistakes that we made early on that come back to haunt you in a one-run game,” said Sac State head coach Reggie Christiansen. “We have to play a little bit better baseball than we did today.”

The bottom of the lineup for Hornets, led by Hunley, went 4-12 and were catalysts in the late inning rally.

“I’m proud of the way they came back,” Christiansen said. “Those guys at the bottom of the order fought back all day to get us a chance to get back in this thing. If they continue to do that, we’ll be alright.”

Hunley, a 17-year-old who enrolled at Sac State this spring to join the team, has seen success in his first two collegiate games as a Hornet, going 5-8 with a run and one RBI. He has not let his age get in the way of his play.

“I feel good, I feel comfortable,” Hunley said. “Happy I could be a part of the team, happy I could help these guys win.”

Early on, the pitching has been a strength for the team. Junior relief pitcher Alex Palsha pitched two perfect innings, striking out four. He threw four innings in the series giving up just one hit. The losing pitcher in Sunday’s game was senior Hunter Greenwood, who went five innings and at one point, retired eight straight Utah hitters.

“I felt good, but I’d rather have the team win,” Palsha said. “Utah is a good team, but if we keep playing better, we could be at the top of the [Western Athletic Conference]. We gotta keep grinding out there.”

Utah was led by starting pitcher Bret Helton, who threw six innings giving up only three hits and two runs earning the win. Designated hitter AJ Young was the Utes top hitter in the series going 5-10 with 4 RBIs and a run scored.

The 2014 Hornets has seen a youth movement having played six freshman, two hitters and four pitchers, in its first four games. Christiansen has made the decision to start freshman pitcher Sam Long against Fresno State Wednesday.

Fresno State was the 2008 College World Series champion and has been picked to finish fourth place in the Mountain West Conference. Sac State will also travel to play No.21 Texas A&M in a three-game series starting Friday at 4:35 p.m.

“Should be an exciting week, just looking forward to getting on the bus on Wednesday and going down to Fresno,” Christiansen said.

First pitch against Fresno State starts Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. in Fresno,Calif.