University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Sacramento State
Hornets Beat Gophers 6-2
3/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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March 15, 2014
Sacramento State took advantage of errors in beating the University of Minnesota (8-6) baseball team 6-2 Saturday at John Smith Field. Each team had eight hits, and the Gophers committed three errors.
Sacramento State went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first when center fielder David Del Grande walked and right fielder Nathan Lukes hit a double to drive him in.
The Gophers responded in the second to tie the game. Shortstop Michael Handel (2-for-3) singled to right center, left fielder Matt Stemper hit a bunt single and third baseman Tony Skjefte hit a sacrifice fly to score Handel.
Del Grande (2-for-2) hit a two-out double in the third, and Lukes hit him in with a single. Left fielder Chris Lewis then reached on an error that allowed Lukes (2-for-4) to score and give Sacramento State a 3-1 lead.
Minnesota led off the fourth with consecutive hits by catcher Mark Tatera (2-for-4), right fielder Bobby Juan and Handel to load the bases. Stemper hit a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2. Then Skjefte's bunt single loaded the bases again. But a double play ended the Gophers' scoring threat.
The Hornets tacked on a run with two hits in the seventh, then scored twice aided by errors on sacrifice bunts in the eighth.
In the loss, Tatera threw out two potential Hornet base stealers at second, and reliever Brian Glowicki caught one on the way to third.
Sacramento State starter Sam Long (2-0) earned the win with a two-run, six-inning start, and Sutter McLoughlin pitched two innings to earn his fifth save. Jordan Jess (0-2) started and took the loss, giving up three runs (two earned) and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Minnesota and Sacrameto State will conclude the series Sunday at 3 p.m. CDT.
