New Mexico State 7, Nevada 6
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - (NMSU Media Relations) The New Mexico State baseball team (25-9, 2-1 WAC) trailed the Wolf Pack (16-14, 1-2 WAC) for 8 ½ innings before winning 7-6 when the Nevada second baseman threw the ball away to allow the winning score to cross the plate, Saturday, April 7 at Presley Askew Field.
Down 6-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth, NM State tallied three unearned runs to win its 25th game of the season and move to 2-1 in Western Athletic Conference play. After senior lead-off hitter Tanner Waite lined out to the Nevada shortstop, senior right fielder Bryan Karraker got on with a walk as he took the count to 3-2. Junior second baseman Parker Hipp reached base on an error by the Wolf Pack first baseman, which moved Karraker over the third, putting him in position to score on a sacrifice fly by senior shortstop Zach Voight.
"Our guys just kept battling and we were able to put ourselves in a position to win the game," head coach Rocky Ward said.
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Hawai‘i 3, Fresno State 2 (10)
HONOLULU – (UH Media Relations) In an early but pivotal Western Athletic Conference matchup, the University of Hawai'i baseball team pulled out a thrilling 3-2 extra-inning win over Fresno State on Saturday afternoon at Les Murakami Stadium. Pi'ikea Kitamura's game-winning two-RBI double in the 10th inning won the game for the Rainbows.
With two outs and no runners on base, Stephen Ventimilia drew a walk from Bulldog closer Taylor Garrison. Kaeo Aliviado then singled to put Ventimilia into scoring position, setting the stage for Kitamura who ripped Garrison's pitch to the right field alley to score both runners and propel UH to its first series win over Fresno State since 2007.
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Sacramento State 2, Louisiana Tech 1
RUSTON, La. - (Sacramento State Media Relations) Sophomore Justin Higley hit a two-run home run and freshman starting pitcher Brennan Leitao tossed a complete game as the Sacramento State baseball team knocked off Louisiana Tech, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon in a Western Athletic Conference game at J.C. Love Field.
The Hornets (15-16, 1-1 WAC) ended a three-game losing streak with two runs on nine hit and no errors. The Bulldogs (16-15, 1-1 WAC) scored just one run on five hits with one error.
Leitao (3-3) was strong early and held on in the later innings. The Irvine, Calif., native surrendered just two hits through the first six innings and finished with one run allowed on five hits in nine innings with a career-high eight strikeouts and just two walks.
He got out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the seventh with a double play grounder and another ground ball out to second base. A run scored on the double play, but that would be it for the Bulldogs’ offense.
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Pacific 7, San Jose State 0
SAN JOSE, Calif. - (SJSU Media Relations) Pitching once again ruled the day Saturday in the series finale between Pacific and San Jose State, but this time it was the Tigers who shined on the mound, shutting out the Spartans with a 7-0 win at Municipal Stadium.
For the third straight day in the series between San Jose State (14-14) and Pacific (10-21), pitching was the name of the game. The San Jose State pitching staff recorded a shutout in game one Thursday and the bullpen was riding a streak of 14 consecutive scoreless innings entering Saturday.
Tigers starter Mike Hager (2-2) stole the spotlight, though, with a perfect game through four innings. He would throw seven shutout frames with just three hits on 82 pitches for the win. The Tigers limited the Spartans to no runs on five hits Saturday after surrendering nine runs on 22 hits in the series' first two games.
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