In a close contest between the top two teams in the Western Athletic Conference, Seattle University took advantage of Sacramento State mistakes both early and late, scoring the game-winning run on a Hornet error in the 11th inning for a 3-2 victory Thursday night at Bannerwood Park, moving the Redhawks into a tie for the conference lead.
Sacramento State (17-11, 6-1 WAC) had its chances in the extra frames, first in the top of the 10th when Nathan Lukes singled and Dane Fujinaka doubled to put runners on second and third with one out. However, Seattle U pitcher Ted Hammond (Shoreline, Wash.) induced a lineout and a foul out to end the Hornet scoring threat.
In the top of the 11th inning, Vinny Esposito hit a one-out single, and then he took off for second on a 3-2 pitch to Scotty Burcham. Burcham hit a ground ball up the middle that Redhawk shortstop Griffin Andreychuk (Nanaimo, B.C.) dove for and caught, reached out to tag second base to retire Esposito, and then got up and threw out Burcham at first base to complete the inning-ending double play.
Sheldon Stober (Kent, Wash.) led off the bottom of the 11th inning by reaching second base on a throwing error by Hornet third baseman PJ Floyd, but he was thrown out at third base on Brian Olson’s (Black Diamond, Wash.) sacrifice bunt attempt. Michael McCann (Vancouver, Wash.) laid down a bunt towards the mound, but reliever Austin Ragsdale’s throw sailed into foul territory down the right-field line, allowing Olson to come all the way around from first base to score the game-winning run.
Seattle U struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Andreychuk reached base on a Hornet error, advanced to third as he took off on a hit-and-run while Stober hit a single into right-center field, and scored on a groundout hit by Olson. The Redhawks increased their lead in the fourth inning when Colin Peterson (Bellingham, Wash.) drew a two-out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and came around to score on a single to right-center field by Dalton Hurd (Bend, Ore.).
Seattle U starter Will Dennis (Saratoga, Calif.) allowed just four hits through the first six innings before running into trouble in the seventh inning, starting when Gunner Pollman drew a one-out walk and Esposito followed with a single. Burcham drove Pollman in with a single through the right side of the infield, and then he stole both second base and third base while pinch hitter Chris Lewis drew a walk. Kyle Moses sent a single through the left side of the infield, driving in Burcham with the game-tying run.
Hammond came on in relief of Dennis and gave up just three hits in four innings of work to earn his fourth victory of the season. Stober and Hurd led the Redhawk offense with two hits apiece.
Ty Nichols started the game for Sacramento State, allowing two hits, three walks, and two runs, one of them earned, in six innings of work while striking out four batters. Tyler Beardsley allowed an infield single in the seventh inning but induced an inning-ending double play, while Chad Perry gave up just a bunt single in two innings of relief. Ragsdale faced the minimum in the 10th inning before taking the loss by giving up the unearned run in the 11th inning.
Fujinaka and Esposito each went 3-for-5 as the Hornets outhit the Redhawks, 10-6, but Sacramento State stranded 11 runners on base and committed five errors as it suffered its first conference loss of the season.
Seattle University (13-15, 6-1 WAC) is scheduled to face Sacramento State once again Friday, April 3, starting at 5 p.m. at Bannerwood Park. The game will be streamed online by the WAC Digital Network (www.wacsports.com/watch).