RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- The Sacramento State continued its strong play with a

6-4 win over UC Riverside Sunday afternoon at the Riverside Sports Complex.

The win was the Hornets¹ third in their past four games and improved the

team¹s overall record to 22-30. The Highlanders dropped to 17-31.

Sacramento State starter Marshall Plouffe, making his third start of the

season, moved to 2-0 on the season with his first complete game. He

scattered 10 hits and three earned runs while striking out nine. Chris Smith

(2-8) took the loss for UCR, allowing nine hits and three earned runs in

five innings of relief.

The Highlanders started quickly as Brian Wahlbrink opened the first with a

single then stole second. Moments later Matt Teahen lined a single to center

to give UCR a 1-0 lead.

Sacramento State came back with solo runs in the second and third off of

Smith. In the second Dave Lusk doubled and scored one out later as Matt

Kinsey chased him home with a double of his own. In the third Bobby Ciani

doubled and scored on Joe Evans' single to left to give the Hornets a 2-1

lead. Riverside quickly tied the game at 2-2 as Wahlbrink crushed his third

homer of the year over the left field wall.

The Hornets just as quickly regained the lead with a solo run in the top of

the fourth as Chris Kinsey led off with a double and then stole third. Tim

Maghan knocked him home with a RBI single to left. They added three runs in

the top of the sixth as Mario Cellilo and Daryl Grant led off with singles.

Tito Barba then attempted a squeeze play, but third baseman Rich Hofman

barehanded the ball and underhanded it to catcher Jason Collette to retire

Celillo. Aurelio Jackson then hit a grounder that shortstop Scott Powis

couldn't handle for an error, allowing Grant to score, and Ciani followed

with a two run single to center. All three runs in the inning were unearned.

But UCR, in turn, came right back with two runs of their own in the bottom

of the inning. Powis led off with a booming triple off the wall in left and

Collette was hit by a pitch. Brandon Smith singled home the first run,

driving Collette to third. Hofman followed with a flyball to center field

that Jackson caught and fired to Joe Evans. The throw beat Collette, but

Evans dropped the ball for an

error as the two collided, allowing the run to score.

The Highlanders had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the eighth as they

loaded the bases with one out, but Plouffe struck out Wahlbrink, then

induced Adam Seuss to hit a harmless fly out to center to end the threat. In

the ninth Plouffe struck out pinch hitter Adam Spiker, then got Brandon

Smith looking to end the game.

Sacramento State continues life on the road this Tuesday when it plays at

Fresno State. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Hornets will then return

home for a three-game set against Cal State Northridge starting on Friday.

The final game of the series on Sunday will mark the last home game of the

year for the team. Prior to the start of that game, the Sacramento State

seniors will be honored.