SACRAMENTO (Interstat) — Jace Jeremiah drove in four runs with a pair of doubles, including a tiebreaking three-run double in the eighth inning, to lift Sacramento State to an 8-5 victory over Tarleton State on Thursday night at John Smith Field.

Jeremiah finished 3 for 4 with four RBIs for the Hornets, who improved to 25-29 overall and 25-29 in the Western Athletic Conference. Tarleton State dropped to 33-18 overall and 33-18 in league play.

The Hornets erased a five-run deficit with a steady comeback, getting key contributions from their bullpen and a decisive outburst in the eighth.

Tarleton State jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the second inning. C. Lorch singled, C. McCloud singled, and after a sacrifice fly by S. Guerra, I. Shirey delivered an RBI single. The Texans added two more in the third on an RBI single by R. Heinrich and a run-scoring groundout from Guerra.

Hornets starter No Lay was pulled after 2 1/3 innings, but reliever Elijah Rogalski, Devin James, Konner Entz and Trevor Wilson combined to allow only one unearned run over the final 5 2/3 innings. Rogalski pitched a scoreless fourth, James worked two perfect frames, Entz gave up one hit in a scoreless seventh and Wilson earned the win with two innings of one-hit relief.

Sacramento State got on the board in the fourth inning when Erick Dessens scored on a throwing error by Tarleton third baseman S. Guerra. Dessens had singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored when Pimentel-Gue reached on the error.

The Hornets cut the deficit to 5-3 in the sixth. After R. Ellis walked, Jeremiah doubled down the left-field line to drive in Ellis. One out later, Poturnak singled to center to score Jeremiah. Tarleton starter Matthew McCullough left after 4 1/3 innings of scoreless work, but relievers Karsen Davis and Anthony Treto each allowed two earned runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Tarleton State briefly restored a two-run lead in the top of the seventh when Shirey singled home C. Lorch, who had reached on a throwing error by shortstop T. Jeremiah. The run was unearned and gave the Texans a 5-3 advantage.

Sacramento State tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. Harry doubled and scored on a double by Dessens. Ellis singled through the right side to drive in Dessens, making it 5-5. Treto left after issuing a walk and a hit, but reliever B. Carter entered and struck out Pimentel-Gue to strand the bases loaded.

The decisive moment came in the eighth. With one out, Beasley singled up the middle. Ott sacrificed him to second. After a flyout, the Hornets intentionally walked Dessens. Ellis then walked to load the bases. Jeremiah stepped to the plate and lined a double to left-center field, clearing the bases and giving Sacramento State an 8-5 lead.

Carter retired the side in order in the eighth, and Wilson worked a perfect ninth to seal the victory.

Tarleton State starter McCullough threw 4 1/3 hitless innings with two strikeouts before departing. Davis and Treto each allowed two earned runs. Shirey was 2 for 4 with two RBIs for the Texans.

For Sacramento State, Dessens went 2 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored. The Hornets used five pitchers, with Wilson picking up the win after striking out two in two innings.

The play that defined the game was Jeremiah’s eighth-inning double, which turned a 5-5 tie into an 8-5 Hornets lead. The hit came after a series of patient at-bats from the Sacramento State lineup, including two walks and a sacrifice bunt that set the stage for the shortstop’s clutch swing.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Tarleton State 8, Sacramento State 5, while its ELO system gave Sacramento State a 50.30 percent probability to win.