Sacramento State battled through five scoreless innings behind a steady outing from senior pitcher Kennedie Bacon, but a late offensive surge from Utah Valley proved to be the difference as the Wolverines secured a 4-1 victory.
Utah Valley threatened early in the first inning after drawing a lead off walk, but Sac State quickly shut down their momentum when the runner was thrown out attempting to steal second.
With the bases clear, Bacon settled into a rhythm, striking out the next batter on a full count before recording another strikeout to end the inning.
The Wolverines continued to test the Hornets in the second inning when a diving stop by junior shortstop Madi Mendoza kept a ground ball in the infield, the throw to first arrived just late and allowed the batter to reach safely. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position, and a stolen base put Utah Valley just 60 feet away from the game’s first run.
Despite the pressure, Sac State escaped the inning unharmed. Bacon struck out the next batter swinging and forced a ground out to second base, stranding the runner at third and keeping the game scoreless.
Utah Valley again put runners in scoring position in the third inning. After two quick flyouts, the Wolverines drew a two-out walk and followed it with a single up the middle. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position, but the Hornets escaped the jam when the inning ended on a ground out to first base.
The Wolverines continued to apply pressure in the fourth inning. The lead off batter hit a ground ball to freshman second baseman Ava Medellin, beating out the throw to first. Sac State responded quickly, throwing the runner out while attempting to steal second base before forcing a popout and a strikeout to keep the game scoreless.
Finally, Utah Valley broke through in the fifth inning. After a single and a bunt placed runners on base, a groundout to the shortstop resulted in an out at third base and kept the Wolverines in scoring position. A deep fly ball to center field allowed the lead runner to tag up and score, giving the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.
Utah Valley’s persistence continued into the sixth inning with a sequence that shifted the momentum entirely.
A lead off single up the middle gave the Wolverines a runner to start the frame, and a walk in the following at bat quickly placed two runners on base. After a strikeout briefly gave Sac State a chance to escape the inning, Utah Valley delivered a line drive to center field, scoring the first run of the inning.
On the play, Sac State attempted to get an out at third base but the throw from the catcher was not made in time. This was followed by a throw to second base, but the ball got away, scoring the runner at third and moving the trail runner to third.
Sac State attempted to get an out at third. The throw from the catcher was late, and a following throw to the second baseman got away, allowing the runner at third to score and the runner at second to advance to third.
Moments later, a bunt to third base led to another throwing error, allowing another run to cross the plate. In just a few batters, the Wolverines had turned a one run game into a 4-0 lead, prompting a pitching change by pitching coach Marina Demore as senior pitcher Danyelle Leone entered the circle.
The Hornets recorded the final two outs of the inning with a strikeout looking and a flyout to center field.
“We challenged ourselves to execute in key situations and at times we gave ourselves extra work,” head coach Lori Perez said.
RELATED: Sac State stays hot, going 4-2 in the Capital Classic
Sac State responded in the bottom half of the sixth inning with their biggest offensive moment of the game. After two quick outs, Mendoza stepped up to the plate and launched a home run over the left field fence to put the Hornets on the board and cut the deficit to 4-1.
The home run provided a spark for Sac State, but the rally stalled shortly after with a fly out from sophomore outfielder Saskia Raab to left field ended the inning.
Utah Valley was held scoreless in the seventh inning after Sac State turned a clean double play following a hit-by-pitch to start the frame, giving the Hornets one final opportunity to rally
However, Sac State failed to generate runs in the bottom of the seventh. Utah Valley closed the game with a strikeout, a fly out to center field and a final strikeout looking.
“A couple defensive miscues and some walks put us behind, and that’s not what we envision for this group,” Perez said. “We’ll work through it and be stronger moving forward.”
