A Late Surge Propels Sacramento State Past Utah Tech
Sacramento State survived a tight contest, edging Utah Tech 5-3 on Tuesday night to keep its season alive. The victory sets up a clash with California Baptist for a berth in the championship game, with the winner then meeting top‑seeded Tarleton State on Championship Saturday.
Ryan Ellis was the catalyst, going 2‑for‑3 with a home run, a double and three RBI. His three‑run blast in the third inning gave the Hornets a lead they would not relinquish.
Luis Pimentel‑Guerrero added a timely homer that tied the game in the second inning and finished with two hits. Brett Ott and Ellis later delivered RBI doubles in the fourth to push the advantage to three runs.
The pitching staff also shone, with Carson Timothy delivering 5.1 innings of two‑earned‑run ball, striking out six. Relief arms Trevor Wilson, Sean Carey and others combined for shutout relief, sealing the win.
Utah Tech finishes the year at 34‑24, while Sacramento State now looks to extend its run against California Baptist and, potentially, Tarleton State. Ellis enters the next game with five extra‑base hits in three tournament outings and a team‑high five RBI.