Hornets baseball in scoring drought, loses to UC Riverside
March 9, 2014
The Sacramento State baseball team is currently in the midst of a scoring slump having scored only one run in each of the last three games, all of which have been losses.
The Hornets had chances to score but were set down against UC Riverside Sunday, leaving eight runners on base in the 6-1 loss in Riverside,Calif.
Sac State, who came in to the game at No.8 in the Western Athletic Conference with only 48 runs scored on the season, had its seventh game of scoring one run or less. The Hornets are 1-6 in those games.
It was also the fifth game where the Hornets lost by five or more runs.
Riverside starting pitcher Zach Varela pitched a complete game giving up one run while striking out three. Varela is now 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA on the season which leads the Highlanders.
Freshman pitcher Jared Paderez took the hill as the starter, but only lasted 2.2 innings giving up 5 runs on eight hits. It was Paderez’s fourth start and he is now 0-2.
The Highlanders sent six batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs and taking the early lead. Riverside would add three more runs in the bottom of the third thanks to a string of hits, scoring two, and a solo home run chasing Paderez out of the game.
The Hornets used five pitchers, including freshman pitcher Sam long who was used in a relief role for the first time this season. Long gave up one run in one inning pitched.
Sac State’s lone run came in the top of the third inning when freshman second baseman Brandon Hunley hit a sacrifice fly, scoring junior shortstop Scotty Burcham.
Despite having nine hits, the 3-through-7 batters in the Sac State starting lineup combined to go 1-for-18 in the game. Hornets’ sophomore right fielder Nathan Lukes went 2-for-4 and increased his batting average to .350 which leads the team.
Sac State, who has had only one home game at John Smith Field since Feb. 17, will return to the friendly confines on Friday for the beginning of a nine-game homestand. The Hornets will host Big-10 member, University of Minnesota, Friday at 3 p.m.
