Issue date: 5/16/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Christina Thomas Tyler Watanabe prepares to throw during Friday's victory over Fresno State. [Click to enlarge]

Freshman Brent Hottman's walk-off grand slam on a 2-2 pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Sacramento State baseball team over Fresno State Friday, 9-8. It was Hottman's first collegiate home run and it capped off a six-run ninth inning for the Hornets who improve their WAC record to 13-15 (22-30 overall).

With the loss the Bulldogs, who sit atop the WAC, drop to 19-10 inside the conference and 31-26 overall.

With the Hornets leading 3-1 heading into the seventh inning, Fresno State's Danny Muro hit an RBI single to get within one run. The Bulldogs scored three runs in the top of the eighth to take a 5-3 lead. An RBI sacrifice fly and two-run single in the top of the ninth gave the Bulldogs an 8-3 lead.

The Hornets' six-runs in the bottom of the ninth was sparked by a one-out walk by senior David Flores and a double off the bat of junior Gabe Jacobo. A walk to sophomore Tim Wheeler loaded the bases. Junior Blake Crosby then hit an RBI single up the middle and senior Jeff Hannah drew an RBI walk to make the score 8-5, setting the stage for Hottman's dramatic blast to left-center field.

The Hornet win snapped their 11-game losing streak to the Bulldogs since joining the WAC in 2006. The two teams will collide again for a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hornet Field.

Andrew Eggers can be reached at aeggers@statehornet.com

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