Feb. 21, 2011
Box Score
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - CJ Blom knocked in the game-tying run for UC Davis in the top of the ninth to send the game to extra innings, but Sacramento State scored with two outs in the bottom of the tenth to take a 3-2 victory Monday at John Smith Field in Sacramento.
With the loss, UC Davis moves to 1-2 on the season while Sacramento State is now 2-1 overall.
It was the top of the ninth when Blom, pinch hitting for Karl Kobler, singled up the middle to score Corbin Cutshaw who entered the game as a pinch runner for Scott Lyman. Lyman reached first base via a single to center field, and was replaced by Cutshaw who took advantage of a wild pitch to advance to second base. Eric Johnson was able to move Cutshaw to third when he grounded out, and Blom's single allowed Cutshaw to cross home plate and score the tying run.
In the bottom of the tenth inning, a single from Eli Davis turned into a double after Daniel Cepin dropped the fly ball, allowing Davis to reach second. Senior righty Tom Briner then entered the game for UC Davis and struck out the next two batters he faced. With two outs, however, an uncharacteristic wild pitch from Briner sent Davis to third base, and Kirby Young singled through the gap into right field to win the game for the Hornets.
In the third one-run decision in as many games, the Hornets took a 1-0 lead in the second inning after Lyman, who started the game on the mound for UC Davis, gave up a single then walked and hit the next two straight batters to load the bases. Lyman then walked the next batter he faced to allow a run to score.
UC Davis tied the game in the top of the fourth when Johnson reached first on a fielder's choice. Johnson moved to third quickly, stealing second and then advancing on a balk by Sacramento State pitcher Dallas Chadwick. Paul Politi's RBI groundout to second allowed Johnson to score the equalizer.
Sacramento State, however, took the lead back quickly in the bottom half of the inning. Blake Miller led off with a single then advanced to second on a groundout by Dax Turner. A wild pitch by Lyman allowed Miller to get to third base, then Ryan Allgrove's misthrow to first base in an attempt to get Eli Davis out let Miller cross home plate and give the Hornets the 2-1 lead.
The UC Davis defense held Sacramento State in check over the next six innings. Beginning with a strikeout in the top of the fifth, the Aggies retired 11 straight batters and did not allow a Hornet to reach base until the ninth inning when pinch hitter Brent Hottman singled up the middle. During that stretch, Lyman and relief pitcher Nathan Slater combined for four strikeouts.
Scott Heylman and Lyman led the Aggies offensively, recording two hits apiece, while the Hornets had five batters each record one hit.
Lyman went seven innings as the Aggies' starter, recording four strikeouts and giving up two runs, only one of which was earned. Slater put away three batters and gave up one run in his two innings of relief work.
UC Davis returns to action Tuesday, taking on San Jose State at Municipal Stadium in San Jose. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
UC Davis 000 100 001 0 - 2 6 3
Sacramento State 010 100 000 1 - 3 5 0
Scott Lyman, Nathan Slater (8), Tom Briner (9) and Scott Kalush. Dallas Chadwick, Brandon Creel (6), Shea Lukes (9), Steven Amaral (9) and Derrick Chung. Win - Amaral (1-0). Loss - Slater (0-1). Save - None. Hitters: UC Davis - Daniel Cepin, 1x5; Scott Heylman, 2x5; Scott Lyman, 2x3, RBI; CJ Blom, 1x1, RBI. Sacramento State: Kirby Young, 1x5; RBI, Trevor Paine, 1x4; Blake Miller, 1x3; Brent Hottman, 1x1, Eli Davis, 1x3; Eli Davis, 0x2, RBI.
