Sacramento State enters the week with a 31-23 record after dropping two games to Washington State (17-11, 14-5) before winning the series finale (15-14) over the weekend at Bailey-Brayton Field. The Hornets have posted their best start after 51 games since 1993 (32-22).

San Francisco enters the game with a 24-29 mark after winning two-of-three games against Loyola Marymount over the weekend before dropping an 8-5 contest to Cal on May 13.

Head Coach John Smith

Since taking over the program in November of 1978, Smith has produced 17 winning seasons, including 11 years with at least 30 wins and four years with at least 40 wins. In his 25th seasons as a head coach, he has posted 725 wins, ranking him among the top-60 active Division I coaches. The 725 wins and his 25-year tenure are also the most by any coach in Sacramento State baseball history. Smith''s current mark is 725-673.

Smith has led the team to four NCAA postseason appearances, winning two regional crowns and two trips to the NCAA Div. II Championship. Smith was named American Baseball Coaches Association/NCAA Western Regional Coach of the Year twice, in 1986 and 1988.

Several Smith-coached players have advanced to the minor and major leagues. Most recently, Casey Fuller signed with the Colorado Rockies in June and Jeff Groeger inked with the Cincinnati Reds in August of 2002. Chad Elliott and Casey Martinez were drafted in the 2000 Amateur Draft, and Jesse Krebs and Jimmy McFarland each signed free agent contracts that same year.

A native of Redding, Calif., Smith spent three years in the U.S. Army Special Forces as a Green Beret. He played collegiately at Sacramento State in 1971 and 1972 and began his coaching career the following season. After five seasons as the head coach at Encina HS in Sacramento, Smith took over the Hornet program in 1978.

A Look at the Latest Action

Sacramento State scored 15 runs on 12 hits in a rain-shortened game as the Hornet defeated Washington State, 15-14, in seven innings on May 11 at Bailey-Brayton Field.

Washington State took a 2-0 lead in the first after a run-scoring wild pitch by freshman James Wheeler and an RBI single by Grant Richardson.

Sacramento State exploded for seven runs in the second to take a 7-2 lead.

The Cougars recaptured the lead, 8-7, in the bottom of the inning after a run-scoring fielding error by junior Cliff Hinkle at first base, RBI singles by Justin Hart and Jay Miller, a sacrifice fly by Richardson and an RBI double by Derek Bruce.

Washington State added two more runs in the third after a two-run homer to right center by Jeremy Farrar.

The Hornets took their second lead of the contest, 11-10 after scoring three runs on three hits in the fourth.

The Cougars recaptured the lead 12-11 after a two-run single by Reddinger.

Sacramento State took their third lead of the contest, 14-12, after scoring three runs on four hits.

Washington State made it 14-13 in the sixth after an RBI single by Reddinger.

The Hornets increased their lead to 15-13 in the seventh after taking advantage of a fielding error by Jonathan Fender at second base.

The Cougars cut the defecit to 15-14 in the bottom of the inning when Bruce drove in Miller from second with a base hit up the middle.

The San Francisco Dons

Nino Giarratano is in his fifth year at the helm of the San Francisco baseball program and has amassed a 117-160 overall record.

Last season, the Dons finished with a 18-38 overall record including a 9-21 record in the West Coast Conference (8th).

Senior outfielder Ryan Sittauer leads the Don offense with a .336 batting average (47-for-140).

Senior outfielder Jason Howard leads the squad with 62 hits and 16 doubles.

A Look at the Hornets

This Week’s Probable Starters

Friday vs. San Francisco, May 16, 2:30 p.m.

C. Kinsey (6-6, 4.69) vs. B. Williams (5-4, 5.60)

Saturday at San Francisco, May 17, 1 p.m.

M. Plouffe (6-2, 3.61) vs. K. Annis (6-3, 3.68)

Sunday vs. San Francisco, May 18, 1 p.m.

S. Cuckovich (6-4, 5.81) vs. TBA

Trading Places

Junior outfielders Mikela Olsen and Jesse Schmidt have become the one-two punch of the Sacramento State offense since their jump from the JC level.

Olsen, a transfer from Santa Ana JC, has only dipped below the .400 mark on one occasion this season (March 28, .396). The Oakhurst, Calif., native currently leads the squad with a .409 batting average, 85 hits, 20 doubles, 64 RBI, 154 total bases and a .740 slugging percentage. Olsen currently ranks 29th in the nation for batting average.

Schmidt, a transfer from Palomar JC, currently leads the Hornets with 52 runs, 16 home runs and a .456 on-base percentage.

Olsen and Schmidt have each recorded three multi-homer games and two games with home runs from both sides of the plate. The duo has also combined to hit back-to-back home runs on three occasions.

The tandem will look to become the first Hornets to hit above the .400 plateau since Dan Ferreira (1990).

Reimer Keeping Pace

Senior Tim Reimer increased his season-high hitting streak to 12 games on May 11.

During his streak, Reimer is batting .435 (20-for-46) with three doubles, two triples, 13 runs, 10 RBI, six walks, six stolen bases and only four strikeouts.

The San Jose native has registered the second-highest streak on the team (Olsen) this season.

Hornet Notables

Sacramento State will finish the 2003 season with no more than three consecutive losses for the first time since 1990...junior Chris Kinsey missed his first game this season (May 11) due to an injured left ankle...junior Marshall Plouffe won his first game (May 11) since April 4...sophomore Bret LeVier is now third on the squad with seven home runs. He also finished with a career-high five RBI on May 11...junior John Acha moved into the third spot in individual batting average (.315) after finishing 5-for-13 against Washington State. Acha is also on a season-high six-game hitting streak...junior Jesse Schmidt set a new program record with his 11th outfield assist...sophomore Everet Rincon is currently second in the program career record book with 15 sacrifices.