Fullerton avoids the sweep with a 13-8 win over City; Mentink goes 3x5 and Sotomayor and Carpenter both have a pair of hits
Fullerton avoids the sweep with 13-8 win over Sac City
Fullerton powered past Sacramento City with a dominant 13-8 victory on February 22, 2025. The Hornets took control early with a six-run fourth inning and never looked back, as their offense kept piling on runs throughout the game. Despite a late rally from the Panthers, Fullerton's early lead was too much to overcome.
Fullerton's Offensive Explosion
The Hornets struck first in the second inning when Nate Pone singled to drive in Luke Viola, giving Fullerton a 1-0 lead. Fullerton continued to build on its advantage in the third, as Noah Rodriguez singled to bring in two runs, followed by a sacrifice fly from Viola to make it 4-0.
The real damage came in the fourth inning, where Fullerton exploded for six runs. Rodriguez's second two-RBI single of the game made it 6-0, and a series of sacrifice flies and singles allowed the Hornets to push the lead to 10-0. Sacramento City managed to get on the board in the fifth, but the deficit was already insurmountable.
Sacramento City's Efforts Fall Short
Sacramento City tried to fight back in the fifth inning. Levi Sotomayor doubled to score Dylan Drake, followed by an RBI single from Jaxen Mentink to make it 10-2. Mentink then advanced to third on a wild pitch, and Tyson Mayberry scored on another wild pitch to cut the lead to 10-3. But Fullerton's offense quickly responded, as the Hornets added three more runs in the sixth to extend their lead to 13-3.
The Panthers weren't ready to give up, though. In the seventh, Dom Agrella scored on a groundout, making it 13-4. Then, in the ninth, Eddie Fines blasted a three-RBI double to drive in Lucas Drake, Kaden Isola, and Mentink, pulling Sacramento City closer at 13-7. Cy Carpenter later doubled to score Fines, but that was all the Panthers could muster, as Fullerton's pitching staff held firm.
Pitching Struggles for Sacramento City
Drew Walker (L, 0-1) started for Sacramento City but struggled through 2.2 innings, giving up four runs on five hits while striking out five. Dylan Burke and Landon Dodge each allowed multiple runs in their appearances, while Tyler Vargas gave up three runs in just 0.2 innings. Despite strong efforts from Cody Williams and Adam Smaglik, who combined for three scoreless innings, the damage had already been done.
Fullerton's Balanced Attack
Fullerton's pitching staff was led by Eddie Garcia (W, 1-0), who earned the win with two solid innings of relief. Joshua Porter allowed four runs in two innings, but the Hornets' early offensive explosion and the efforts of their bullpen were more than enough to secure the win.
Key Performances:
Fullerton:
- Nate Pone – 3-for-5, 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R
- Noah Rodriguez – 2-for-4, 2 2B, 5 RBIs, 2 R
- Trevor Schmidt – 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 2 R
- Dillon Anderson – 2-for-5, 1 RBI, 2 R
- Eddie Garcia (W) – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO
Sacramento City:
- Jaxen Mentink – 3-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 R
- Levi Sotomayor – 2-for-4, 1 RBI
- Eddie Fines – 1-for-3, 3 RBIs
- Cy Carpenter – 2-for-3, 1 RBI
- Drew Walker (L) – 2.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
