BASEBALL SMACKS THREE HOME RUNS, SWEEPS HAWAI’I WITH 10-2 VICTORY
5/13/2012
Trevor Paine crushed the first pitch he saw in the sixth inning over the scoreboard in left center.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento State baseball team hit three home runs and swept Hawai’i with a 10-2 win on Sunday at John Smith Field in its final Western Athletic Conference game of the regular season.
The Hornets (29-23, 11-7 WAC) sit in second place in the WAC standings after scoring 10 runs on 12 hits with no errors and sweeping a conference foe for the first time since 2008, when they also swept Hawai'i at home. In fact, Sacramento State is 11-1 against the Rainbows at home since winning the final contest of a three-game series in 2007.
The Rainbows (28-21, 8-7 WAC) dropped from first to third in the standings after scoring just two runs on 10 hits with no errors.
While Sacramento State’s conference schedule is complete, the remaining six WAC teams play league games next weekend as Hawai’i hosts Nevada, San Jose State hosts New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech visits Fresno State.
Depending on the outcomes of those series, the Hornets could finish anywhere from first to third. The easiest way for Sacramento State to win its first WAC championship in 11 seasons with the league is for Hawai’i to win at least two games against Nevada and for San Jose State to win at least once versus New Mexico State.
There are also two different three-way tie scenarios. The Hornets would emerge as the No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament in a three-way tie with Hawai’i and New Mexico State while they would be the No. 2 seed in a three-way tie with Nevada and New Mexico State. The only way Sacramento State finishes in third is if Nevada wins the title by winning 2-of-3 or sweeping Hawai’i and New Mexico State sweeps San Jose State.
The WAC Tournament, which runs from May 23-27 at Hohokam Park in Mesa, Ariz., awards coveted first round byes to the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. The Hornets will be making their first WAC Tournament appearance since 2008.
The Hornets set themselves up very well for one of those two byes by dominating Hawai’i. Sacramento State outscored Hawai’i 27-11 in the three-game series, capped off by a three homer game and 10 runs on Sunday.
Sophomore Justin Higley hit a solo shot to dead center in the fourth while senior Derrick Chung and senior Trevor Paine hit towering shots to left in the Hornets’ five-run sixth inning.
The Hornets scored two runs in the second and one each in the third, fourth and fifth but it was the big sixth inning that finished off the Rainbows.
After a fly out, Higley hit a triple to left center and he scored the first run of the sixth inning on sophomore David Del Grande’s sacrifice fly to center. With two outs, junior Andrew Ayers singled through the left side before Chung smashed his second home run of the season to left.
That is when things got interesting. Hawai’i reliever David Longville hit freshman Rhys Hoskins in the head with his first pitch after the Chung home run and was ejected. Hawai’i manager Mike Trapasso argued the call with home plate umpire Joe Maiden and was also tossed from the game. Hoskins was not injured and Longville's plunking of the Hornets' top hitter eventually added an additional run to the scoreboard. Hawai’i brought in reliever Lawrence Chew after Longville’s ejection and Paine crushed the first pitch he saw high over the scoreboard in left center for the Hornets second two-run bomb of the inning.
Chung had a team-high three hits and hit a whopping .643 in the series. Higley, Ayers and Paine each had two hits while Higley, Chung and Paine each had a team-high two RBIs. The Hornets hit .358 in the series while posting a 2.10 team ERA.
Freshman starting pitcher Brennan Leitao (6-4) earned the win after allowing only two runs on 10 hits in seven innings with no walks and one strikeout. Reliever Tyler Hoelzen did not give up a hit in the final two innings. Hawai’i starting pitcher Scott Squier (3-4) took the loss after giving up three runs on five hits in just two innings.
Hawai’i entered the weekend with a WAC-best 2.86 team ERA but leaves Sacramento with a 3.17.
With their WAC schedule in the books, the Hornets close out the regular season next weekend with a three-game non-conference series at home against UNLV. First pitch on Friday is 3 p.m.
