Final Stats

MORAGA, Calif. -- A deadlocked game finally turned in the ninth, as visiting Sacramento State pushed across two runs on an infield single and a wild pitch to escape Louis Guisto Field with a 4-2 non-conference win Tuesday afternoon at Louis Guisto Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Tuesday's game was full of offense -- except for the kind that scored any runs. Sacramento State (13-14) and Saint Mary's (15-11) combined for 16 walks, three hit-by-pitches and 18 hits for a plethora of base runners. But they would strand 31 of those runners on base. In 18 turns at bat between the two teams, only two half-innings did not see any runners stranded - the SMC bottom of the second and bottom of the ninth.
  
  
• The Hornets (13-14) put runners in scoring position in every single inning, but they would strand 11 of them on second or third base. Saint Mary's stranded a season-high 14 runners, including eight in scoring position. Both teams loaded the bases twice, but Sacramento State's second inning run on a bases-loaded double play ball was the only run scored in any of those situations. It wasn't until the ninth inning when Sacramento State finally snapped what had been a 2-2 tie for 4 1/2 innings.
  
  
• The top of the ninth started clean, with SMC reliever Carlos Lomeli (0-2) recording the first two outs with a strikeout and groundout in seven pitches. But a two-out walk and a double by nine-hole hitter Keith Torres set the table for the top of the Hornets' order. Ian Dawkins fell behind 1-2, but he would foul off three straight pitches before finally sending a line drive straight back at Lomeli, who it bounced off of and rolled into no-man's land in the infield, allowing defensive replacement Raul Ortiz to score, making it 3-2. Torres would come home several pitches later on a wild pitch to make it 4-2.
  
  
• For the second straight game, the Gaels fell behind the Hornets, only to rally to take the lead, then give up the lead in defeat. Jackson Thoreson gave the Gaels a 2-1 lead in the third with a solid line drive to center field that brought Brett Rasso home for an RBI single. But it was Thoreson's throwing error in the very next half-inning that allowed Sacramento State to tie the game on a steal attempt at third base.
• The action got started in the bottom of the second inning as Austin Chauvin scored the Gaels first run of the game to tie it, 1-1 after a sacrifice fly hit from Matt Green. SMC starter Connor Loeprich recorded three strikeouts in the three first innings.

• 3 for 4: Conor Thane tied a career high with three hits, going 3 for 4. Three other Gaels had two hits each.
• 12: Saint Mary's pitchers issued a season-high 12 walks. They had not allowed more than eight in a game all season, and it was the most they allowed since also giving up 12 free passes at New Mexico State on Feb. 16, 2014..
• 31: Both teams combined to leave 31 players on base. A total of 19 runners were left in scoring position, while only one run was scored after loading the bases on four different occasions.

• Saint Mary's will return to Louis Guisto Field to take on conference leader San Francisco for a three-game series starting Friday. Tickets are available for purchase on SMCGaels.com or by calling the SMC Ticket Office at (925) 631-GoTx. Fans can find all live coverage links on SMCGaels.com.