Jan. 30, 2004
San Diego - Sacramento State rallied for two runs in the seventh inning to overcome a one-run deficit and go on to a 6-5 victory over San Diego State in the latter's home opener Friday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The loss evened SDSU's record at 3-3 while the Hornets enjoyed the win in what was their first outing of the season.
The first inning of the contest provided offensive fireworks as each team scored three times. After Sacramento State's Jack Arroyo singled to lead off the game, right fielder Craig Johnson hit a home run to center off Aztec starter Scott Shoemaker to stake the visitors to a two-run lead. Not to be outdone, the ensuing hitter, third baseman John Acha, also lifted a homer to center to give the Hornets the early three-run cushion.
In the bottom of the frame, Landon Burt, who had three hits on the night, began the inning with a single and moved to second on a walk to James Guerrero. Senior Rielly Embrey then connected with a blast deep over the right field fence off Hornet starter Ethan Katz to knot the score.
Sacramento State regained the lead in the third on a leadoff double by Johnson and a sacrifice fly off the bat of first baseman Brett Flowers. However, RBI singles by Jake McLintock and Jordan Swaydan put SDSU up 5-4 after four innings.
The Hornets' game-winning rally in the seventh began with a pair of inning-opening walks to Kyle Aure and Ronnie Machado, followed by a bunt single by Arroyo to load the bases with no outs. Acha then brought in the first run with a sac fly and Flowers' two-out single drove in what proved to be the game-winning run.
Hornet reliever Renecke Stelzriede (1-0) was the beneficiary of his team's seventh-inning uprising as he picked up the win with teammate Billy Sinacori finishing the final 1.1 innings to record the save. Aztec left-hander Drew Jenson, who had come on to start the sixth inning, was saddled with the loss to fall to 0-1 on the year.
The Aztecs and Hornets continue their three-game series on Saturday (Jan. 31) at Tony Gwynn Stadium starting at 1:00 p.m.
Sacramento State 6, San Diego State 5CSUS 301 000 200 - 6 9 1SDSU 300 200 000 - 5 8 1Shoemaker, Jenson (6) and SwaydanKatz, Cuckovich (4), Stelzriede (6), Sinacori (8) and Aure, Morales (8)W - Katz (1-0)L - Jenson (0-1)Sv - Sinacori (1)HR - CSUS: Johnson (1st-one on), Acha (1st-none on) SDSU: Embrey (1st-two on)Att. - 1,026Time - 3:20