Junior Jesse Schmidt’s program-best hitting streak ended at 24 as the Sacramento State baseball team split a pair of seven inning games with Hawai’i-Hilo Thursday afternoon at Hornet Field. The Hornets dropped the first game (5-0) before gaining the split (7-2) in the second frame. Sacramento State is now 25-18 on the year while Hawai’i-Hilo sits at 9-34. The doubleheader was originally scheduled for 12:30 p.m. but was delayed two hours due to rain.In the first game, Hawai’i-Hilo starter James Onaga earned his first shutout of the season while the Vulcans scored all of their runs in the first two innings to take the first game of the series.
Hawai’i-Hilo jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after a two-run double by Scott McLaughlin, a throwing error by junior Chris Kinsey and an RBI infield-single by Kevin Drever. The Vulcans would add another run in the second when Douglas Nassimbene hit a solo shot over the left center fence.
Onaga (2-0) earned the complete-game victory after allowing only three hits while walking one batter and striking out two in seven innings.
Senior Steve Cuckovich (6-3) got the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits while walking two and striking out two in 2.1 innings.
Schmidt, a native of San Diego, finished 0-for-3 in the first game after lining out to right field, flying out to deep center and grounding out to first base. With his streak, Schmidt sits two games above Casey Simpson (22) for the program’s Div. I record (1990-present). The Palomar JC transfer batted .443 (39-for-88) with 26 runs, 22 RBI, five double, nine home runs, 16 walks, 10 stolen bases and only 10 strikeouts from March 11-April 22.
In the second game, senior Tim Reimer finished 2-for-3 with a run and three RBI as Sacramento State pounded out seven runs and 10 hits to gain the split.
The Hornets took an early 4-0 advantage in the second after a two-run triple by Reimer, a bases-loaded RBI walk by junior John Acha and sacrifice fly by Kinsey.
After the Vulcans cut the lead to 4-2 with runs in the third and fourth, Sacramento State would put the game away in the fifth with three runs. Olsen led off the inning with a solo home run to center field and sophomore Brian Blauser and junior Cliff Hinkle each recorded RBI singles to put the Hornets up 7-2.
Junior Andy Mohr (1-1) earned the win after allowing two runs on three hits while walking one and striking out two in three innings of relief.
Jason Miyahira (1-6) was tagged with the loss after giving up seven runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings of work.
Blauser (2-for-2) and sophomore Bret LeVier (2-for-3) also finished with multiple hits to lead the squad.
Sacramento State and Hawai’i-Hilo will play a second doubleheader on Saturday, April 26, at noon before concluding the series on Sunday, April 27, at 1 p.m.
