SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Junior right-hander Kurt Marton struck out a Sacramento State career high nine batters over 6.2 innings of work and junior infielder Jakob Poturnak slugged his first home run of the season to help power the Hornet offense, lifting the home side to a 4-2 victory over Saint Joseph's on Saturday afternoon at John Smith Field.
With the win, Sacramento State improved to 2-4 overall on the season, winning for the second time in the four-game series with the Hawks. Saint Joseph's, who eked out a 5-4 win in 12 innings in Friday night's game two, fell to 2-4 on the year.
Marton (1-0) was stellar en route to his first win as a Hornet, throwing a Hornet career-high 6.2 innings while surpassing his previous season-best strikeout total of six set in his first start of the year against UC Irvine back on Feb. 14.
He allowed single runs in the fifth and seventh innings while scattering eight hits and did not walk a batter on the day over 95 pitches. He allowed only three base runners over the first four innings, and stranded six Hawk base runners on the day.
Junior left-hander Sean Carey came on to get three outs — all via the strikeout — while walking only one before giving way to senior right-hander Andrew Monson, who nailed down his first save of the year with three strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work.
Starter Cole Fehrman (0-1) was charged with the loss, allowing two earned on only two hits and striking out four over five innings of work.
The Hornets were the first on the board with an unearned run in the second with two outs as freshman Sam Harry drew a lead-off walk, moved to second on a one-out ground ball, and scored when Jace Jeremiah's ground ball was misplayed and bounced far enough away to led Harry score from second for the 1-0 lead.
Poturnak then made it a 3-0 game in the third with his 398-foot long ball over the scoreboard in left centerfield, scoring Brett Ott, who reached on a fielder's choice, ahead of him.
An infield single with two in scoring position for Saint Joseph's broke up the shutout as a diving stop by Cameron Sewell behind the second-base bag prevented a second run from coming across. The Hawks made it a one-run game on a solo home run by Richard Beggy in the seventh, but that was as close as they would get.
Sacramento State added a much-needed insurance run after the stretch as Nikhil Beasley reached on an error, stole second, and moved to third on a ground ball back to the mound. After a mound visit, Brett Ott needed just two pitched to plate his teammate, finding room with a single back up the middle with the infield drawn in for the final 4-2 score.
After a pair of Carey strikeouts following a walk, Monson stranded the runner at first with a strikeout of his own, then struck out the final two batters of the game to nail down the win.
Four different Hornets finished with hits on the day, including Harry's second double of the season.
The two teams conclude the series on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 22) at Noon with Sacramento State right-hander Carson Timothy facing Saint Joseph's right-hander Luke Parise. The game will be streamed live on the ESPN+ platform and WAC International.
