Nevada 8, Sacramento State 5
Monday, March 10, 2025 | Sacramento, Calif. – John Smith Field
Sacramento, Calif. – Billy Ham and Sean Yamaguchi had clutch hits in the seventh inning, leading Nevada to an 8-5 victory over Sacramento State on Monday night. Yamaguchi’s two-run homer highlighted a three-run inning that secured the win for the Wolf Pack.
The inning started when Taylor Holder was hit by a pitch. Ham followed up with a double to center field, breaking a 5-5 tie. Yamaguchi then worked the count full before hitting a powerful home run to center, extending Nevada’s lead to 8-5.
The bullpen held strong after that. Eddie Tierney, Caedon Kottinger, and Ethan O’Neal backed up Zach Garber’s solid start. Together, they allowed just one hit and one walk in the final four innings while striking out six batters. Garber received the win after a scoreless sixth inning, and Tierney impressed with four strikeouts in 1.2 innings. Kottinger closed the eighth, and O’Neal sealed the game, catching three fly balls in the ninth for his third save.
Jackson Waller ignited the scoring for Nevada with a three-run homer in the second inning, giving them a 3-1 lead. However, Sacramento State responded in the fourth, with Luis Pimentel-Guerrero hitting a three-run shot to put the Hornets ahead, 4-3. They added another run in the fifth with a double from JP Smith, taking a 5-3 advantage.
Nevada fought back, capitalizing on a Hornet error in the sixth to tie the game at 5-5. Jack Metcho’s single set the stage for Michael Ball’s RBI double, narrowing the gap. A dropped fly ball by the Hornets’ right-fielder allowed Ball to score, tying the game.
Looking ahead, Nevada will play a series at Fresno State from March 14 to 16 before wrapping up their trip at Santa Clara on March 17. The opening game at Fresno State is set for 6:05 p.m.
