MESA, Ariz. - Scoring seven runs in the middle innings, Sacramento State became the first team to advance to the 2017 WAC Baseball Tournament Championship game, defeating Northern Colorado, 10-1, on Friday evening at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz.
James Outman put the Hornets on the board in the top of the fourth, hitting a towering home run to right field that nearly cleared the bullpens to plate the first three runs of the game. Sacramento State added two more in the next frame on a two-RBI single by Vinny Esposito and then added another two in the top of the sixth.
Northern Colorado scored its lone run in the bottom of the sixth as Cole Maltese grounded out to the shortstop but allowed Nick Tanner to score from third. It was too little, too late as Sacramento State added another two in the eighth and one more in the ninth to complete the 10-1 win.
Austin Roberts earned the win for Sacramento State, allowing one run on four hits over six innings pitched. Ty Fox earned the save, pitching three scoreless innings to secure the victory. UNC starter Karver Pate took the loss for the Bears, allowing three runs on three hits over 3.1 innings.
Northern Colorado will take on CSU Bakersfield on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. in an elimination game with the winner advancing to play Sacramento State for the title.