Archived Audio Broadcast
Box Score: #22 Sonoma State 4, Patten 3

ROHNERT PARK, Calif- Down 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning and the bases loaded, Kyle Jones connected on a 3-2 pitch and sent it to left center, scoring Brian Budd and O'Koyea Dickson to give Sonoma State the 4-3 win over Patten University in non-conference action on Tuesday at Seawolf Diamond. The Seawolves improve to 27-12 as the Lions fall to 20-22.

Patten, a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) out of Oakland, got a pair of runs in the first two innings off SSU starter Joshua Nervis, putting the Lions up 2-0 after two.

Justin Serrao put Sonoma State onto the scoreboard in the third with a RBI double down the left field line, scoring Jon Richards from second. Scott Collins then tied the game up at 2-2 just three pitches later with a RBI sacrifice fly, scoring Patrick Moniz.

The Lions loaded the bases in the top of the fifth and eventually scored a run on a wild pitch by reliever Shane Funk. Funk would get out of the inning, giving up just one run, but Patten led 3-2.

In the next half inning, Sonoma State would load the bases with one out, but Patten reliever Tommy Papucci, who came on for starter Jesus Berduzco earlier in the fifth, got a force out at home on a soft ground ball by Jones. However, the bases remained loaded with two outs. Papucci would work his way out of the jam, though, forcing Garrett Gooselaw to pop out to second base, ending the fifth and leaving three runners on.

From then on, it became a pitching showcase. Only four hits were allowed by both teams in three and a half innings. In the bottom of the ninth, the Seawolves would load the bases on a double by Ryan Morales, a walk to Dickson and a single by Alex Todd. Budd would come in to pinch run for Morales after his one-out double before coming around to score on the game-winning double by Jones on a 3-2 count. He and Dickson would score easily, giving Sonoma State the narrow 4-3 win over visiting Patten University.

Twenty-three Sonoma State players would see time on the field on Tuesday, but Todd and Jones, who came in as pinch hitters in the fifth, led the way with two hits. The Seawolves and Lions each had ten hits apiece.

Jacob Fiss (2-0) earned the victory in relief, pitching the final three innings. He allowed just two hits and struckout two. Patten's Duran (4-5) was tagged with the loss after giving up the game-winning hit to Jones in the ninth.

Sonoma State has the weekend off, but will return to action next Tuesday (Apr. 26) and will host Patten again at Seawolf Diamond. It is a scheduled doubleheader and first pitch is set for 11 a.m.