SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth offensive showcase that defied pregame projections, the Winthrop Eagles outlasted the Sacramento State Hornets 14-12 on Friday night at John Smith Field, avenging a lopsided loss from the previous day.

The game, which featured 32 combined hits and a late-inning grand slam that turned a blowout into a nail-biter, was a stark contrast to Thursday’s series opener, which Sacramento State won 13-1. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a low-scoring 6-5 Winthrop victory, with its ELO system even giving the Hornets a 54.9% probability to win. The reality was a high-wire act where a 14-run lead nearly evaporated.

Winthrop’s offense exploded early and then again late to secure the win. The Eagles battered Sacramento State starter Marton and two relievers for seven runs in the first two innings, highlighted by a leadoff home run from second baseman Gabe Natividad in the first inning. Natividad finished 3 for 6 with a home run and three RBIs, setting the tone.

The Eagles extended their lead to 7-0 by the middle of the fifth inning, capitalizing on run-scoring hits from Alan Benhardt and Cornelius Wouters. Winthrop starter Earnhardt cruised through the first four innings but ran into trouble in the fifth. Sacramento State finally broke through for three runs, aided by a Winthrop throwing error and a sacrifice fly from Harry, cutting the deficit to 7-3.

The game’s most critical sequence occurred in the top of the eighth inning. Leading 7-5 after the Hornets scratched across two unearned runs in the seventh, Winthrop sent 12 men to the plate and scored seven runs to seemingly put the game out of reach at 14-5. The Eagles strung together six hits in the frame, including a two-run single by center fielder Josh Skowronski, who went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, and run-scoring hits from Benhardt, Wouters, and Grant McGuire. The inning saw three Sacramento State pitchers fail to stop the onslaught.

That cushion proved vital. In the bottom of the ninth, facing reliever McNeely, the Hornets mounted a furious and improbable rally. After loading the bases with one out, Sacramento State’s Poturnak launched a grand slam over the center field wall, suddenly bringing the score to 14-11 and injecting life into the home crowd. Sewell followed with a double, and pinch-hitter Hadley drove him in with a ground-rule double to left, pulling the Hornets within two runs.

With the tying run at the plate and the potential winning run at the plate, Winthrop finally summoned Rehkow from the bullpen. He needed just two pitches to end the threat, getting Mullin on a groundout and Ott on a flyout to left field to seal the chaotic victory.

Benhardt joined Natividad and Skowronski with three RBIs for Winthrop, going 3 for 5. Chazz Grossington also had three of Winthrop’s 17 hits. Sacramento State’s 15 hits were led by Pimentel-Gue, who had three, while Poturnak’s four RBIs on the ninth-inning homer highlighted the Hornets’ effort.

With the win, Winthrop improved to 16-7 on the season, while Sacramento State fell to 9-14. The two teams are scheduled to meet again Saturday at John Smith Field to decide the series.