SACRAMENTO (Interstat) — Sacramento State used an eight-run sixth inning to rally past Tarleton State 8-4 on Saturday evening at John Smith Field, evening the Western Athletic Conference series after dropping the opener.

The Hornets improved to 26-30 overall and 14-15 in WAC play, while the Texans fell to 34-19 and 15-14.

Tarleton State jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Johnson K. singled to right field, advanced to second on a balk and to third on a passed ball before scoring on a sequence that also included a walk and a strikeout. The Texans added a run in the second on a solo home run by McCloud C. to right field.

Sacramento State struggled to generate offense through the first five innings against Tarleton State starter Cort Lowry and reliever Ashton Bassett. Lowry worked two scoreless innings with two strikeouts, and Bassett tossed three hitless innings with four strikeouts before exiting.

The game turned in the bottom of the sixth. With Tarleton State leading 4-0, the Hornets sent 13 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on six hits, a hit batter, two walks and a balk. Jeremiah singled, then Pimentel-Guerrero was hit by a pitch. After a strikeout, Beasley walked to load the bases. Poturnak walked to force in the first run, making it 4-1. Ott struck out, but Harry singled up the middle to drive in two runs and cut the lead to 4-3. Ellis R. doubled to right center, scoring two more to put Sacramento State ahead 5-4. Dessens singled to right field to drive in Ellis, and Jeremiah singled to put runners at first and second. Pimentel-Guerrero tripled down the right-field line, scoring two more to make it 8-4.

Tarleton State answered in the top of the seventh. With one out, Ricard C. singled and Smeenk R. homered to right field, cutting the deficit to 8-6. But the Texans could not get closer. Sacramento State reliever Trevor Wilson pitched a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts to seal the win.

Sean Carey was the top star for Sacramento State, pitching three scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Carey has been dominant in recent outings, including a three-inning scoreless appearance against California Baptist on May 8 and another against Abilene Christian on May 3. Carson Timothy started for the Hornets and allowed three hits and one earned run over three innings with four strikeouts. Devin James gave up one run on two hits in the eighth, and Wilson finished the game.

For Tarleton State, Raphael Smeenk went 1 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs. Ben Bosse pitched a scoreless eighth with two strikeouts. The Texans managed eight hits in the game, including a double by McCloud S. in the eighth inning that led to a run on a single by Ricard C.

Sacramento State had nine hits, led by Pimentel-Guerrero’s triple and two RBIs, Harry’s two-run single and Ellis R.’s two-run double. The Hornets also benefited from solid defense and timely hitting in the decisive inning.

The win avenged a 15-4 loss to Tarleton State on Friday, which followed the Hornets’ 8-5 victory in the series opener Thursday. Sacramento State has now won two of the three games in the series.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Tarleton State 8, Sacramento State 5, while Interstat’s ELO system gave Sacramento State a 51.20 percent probability to win. The Hornets defied those projections with a comeback that featured their biggest inning of the season.