MORAGA, Calif. – The Sacramento State Hornets went ahead in the sixth inning on Tuesday afternoon and hung on for an 8-6 win to split the season series with the Gaels.
 
The Gaels were leading 2-1 before the Hornets put up four runs in the sixth inning that started a hard-hit line out to Kyle Velazquez followed by a one-out single. Jackson Hulett was removed after 5.1 innings with no walks and six strikeouts for Ryan Sanders.
 
The lefty from Lancaster, Calif. had been lights out over 12.2 innings so far this season, but allowed the next two batters to reach before Hornets second baseman Gunnar Gouldsmith tripled center to clear the bases and put Sac State up 4-2.
 
Jack Snook replaced Sanders and allowed a sac fly before a strikeout ended the inning. But SMC answered in the bottom of the sixth with two outs. Chris Santiago singled and Blake McDonald walked before the Gaels executed a delayed double steal with Santiago and Trey Winget who pinch ran for McDonald. Mistone walked to load the bases and Riley Lamb singled to left to drive in a pair and SMC cut the Hornets lead back to one at 5-4.
 
However, the Hornets extended their lead with another crooked number in the seventh when a hit by pitch and a single put two Hornets on, though there were two outs. Nathan Schneider came in for Snook with two strikes on Jeffrey Heard, as Schneider had been very good with runners on and against lefthanders.
 
But Heard ripped the first pitch he saw over a leaping Santiago for a line drive off the chalk to score two more runs. That was followed by another base hit to make it 8-4 Hornets. Schneider would settle in after that, throwing two 1-2-3 innings to allow the Gaels a chance to come back.
 
The Gaels would cut it to two on Blake Mann's first home run of the season to drive in Mistone who extended his hit streak to seven games and make it an 8-6 deficit. Seth Nager would single and steal second but the Hornets would get a ground out to end the threat.
 
Saint Mary's struck first with RBI groundouts from Lamb and Mistone to get out to a 2-1 lead. Sacramento State got their first run on a sac fly after their first of three triples on the day.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's will head to Stockton, Calif. for a three-game set Saturday to Sunday against the Pacific Tigers.