SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Saint Joseph's baseball team opened its weekend at Sacramento State on Thursday night, falling to the Hornets by a 4-1 score at John Smith Field.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Both teams had runners aboard in the first inning, but it wasn't until the fourth that either would break through.  Erick Dessens led off the bottom of the frame with a solo home run; the Hornets would then load the bases, but Duke McCarron worked around the trouble to escape the inning allowing just the one run.
 
• Sacramento State (1-3) would tack on a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Luis Pimentel-Guerrero before an RBI single by Dessens and a wild pitch, both in the seventh inning, doubled the hosts' lead to 4-0.
 
• Saint Joseph's (1-3) would not go quietly, as Joey Gale hit a two-out single in the eighth and came in on a double by Alex Kelsey; Jason Janesko followed with a four-pitch walk to bring the tying run to the plate, but the Hornets kept the Hawks at bay and recorded the final four outs to preserve the win.
 
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Ian Winterhalder was credited with the win as he faced the minimum over four shutout innings in relief of starter Chase Sorlie, who allowed two hits over three innings.  McCarron got the start for the Hawks and took the loss, allowing a run on two hits while striking out six in four innings.
 
• Kelsey had two hits and drove in a run for the Hawks, with Gale and Joey Pagano adding hits as well.  Janesko drew a pair of walks while Carson Applegate walked and was hit by a pitch to also reach base twice in the game.
 
UP NEXT
The series continues on Friday night.