Sacramento State’s games at San Jose State this weekend can be heard on www.hornetsports.com by clicking on the "Live Audio" link and scrolling down to the baseball schedule.

Last season, Sacramento State finished 2-0 against San Jose State with a pair of 2-1 victories at Hornet Field on May 4.

Of the Hornets'' 10 final games this season, six will be on the road and four will be played at Hornet Field.

HEAD COACH JOHN SMITH

Since taking over the Sacramento State program in November of 1978, head coach John Smith has produced 18 winning seasons, including 12 years with at least 30 wins and four years with at least 40 wins.

In his 26th season as a head coach, he has posted 747 wins, ranking him among the top 60 active Division I coaches. The 747 victories and his 26-year tenure are also the most by any coach in Sacramento State baseball history. Smith''s current mark is 747-702.

Smith has led the team to four NCAA postseason appearances, winning two regional crowns and making 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.

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.

Smith missed one game (UC Davis) and four days at the office after having successful back surgery on Feb. 9. He had a slipped disk in his lower back repaired after it was causing discomfort.

A LOOK AT THE LATEST ACTION

After upsetting second-ranked Stanford (2-1) on April 24, the Hornets suffered a 25-3 defeat to Cal on April 27 at Hornet Field.

Cal scored 10 runs on seven hits in the first, two runs on three hits in the second and eight runs on six hits in the third to take a 20-0 lead after three innings.

The 25 runs were the most giving up by a Hornet squad since allowing 25 against Arizona on March 16, 1994.

KATZ GETS BACK ON TOP

After a three-game slide in his last four outings, junior Ethan Katz came back with a vengeance with his fourth complete game this year in a 2-1 win over second-ranked Stanford.

Katz, a native of Los Angeles, registered the win over the Cardinal after allowing one unearned run on four hits while walking four and striking out seven in 9.0 innings.

With the victory, the Hornets defeated their highest-ranked opponent in program history and ended a season-high five-game losing streak.

Katz ended several streaks for the Cardinal including consecutive games with at least two runs (31), games with at least 10 hits (12) and a seven-game winning streak. The right-hander also ended hitting streaks for Brian Hall (21) and Sam Fuld (12). Stanford entered the contest with a 22-1 record vs. right-handed pitchers.

Prior to his start against Stanford, Katz had gone 0-3 with an 8.05 ERA in losses to UC Santa Barbara, Hawai''i-Hilo and Oregon State. During that span, he allowed 17 earned runs while walking 15 and striking out 13 in 19.0 innings.

Before his slide, Katz had won three-consecutive starts (San Francisco State, Cal Poly and Pacific) in which he went 3-0 with a 1.37 ERA, a shutout and two complete games. The right-hander allowed only four earned runs while walking six and striking out 27 in 26.1 innings.

A transfer from East Los Angeles JC, Katz leads the Hornet pitching staff with a 7-4 record, a 3.74 ERA, four complete games, one shutout, 89.0 innings pitched and 75 strikeouts. He also became the first Hornet to pitch back-to-back complete-game victories since Jeff Groeger accomplished the feat during the 2002 season (May 4, May 10).

THE SHOW STOPPER

Senior Renecke Stelzriede has worn several hats for the Hornet pitching staff since transferring from Citrus JC last season.

After serving as the setup man for freshman Billy Sinacori early in the season, Stelzriede has assumed the role of closer.

Since earning his first save of the year on March 10, the right-hander has gone 4-for-4 in save opportunities with a 2.70 ERA. In 6.2 innings, Stelzriede has allowed two runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out five batters.

The right-hander is currently tied for fourth in the program career record book with nine saves. He needs three more to become the all-time leader.

A LOOK AT THE HORNETS

This Week’s Probable Starters

Friday at San Jose State, Apr. 30, 7 p.m.

E. Katz (7-4, 3.74) vs. C. Cabral (5-6, 4.52)

Saturday at San Jose State, May 1, 1 p.m.

A. Mohr (4-1, 5.51) vs. B. Dewing (1-8, 5.19)

Sunday vs. Stanford, Apr. 24, 2 p.m.

TBA vs. M. Durkin (6-4, 4.43)

ACHA MAKES FINAL RETURN

After a 12-game hiatus due to a finger injury, senior John Acha made his way back into the lineup as the designated hitter against Oregon State on April 17.

Following five starts as a DH, Acha made his first start at third base against Cal on April 27. It marked his first start in the field since March 27.

The Turlock, Calif., native injured himself after being hit on the tip of his right index finger on a bunt attempt against Pacific (March 27).

Despite missing 12 games, Acha still leads the squad with a .335 average, eight home runs, a .553 slugging percentage, 85 total bases and 12 multi-RBI games. He is also second on the team with 30 RBI.

In six games since his return the lineup, Acha is 7-for-21 (.333) with three runs and a double.

An interesting point to the value of Acha in the lineup is Sacramento State''s team''s batting average. In 33 games with a healthy Acha, the Hornets were batting .284 with 323 hits, 56 doubles, 30 home runs and 180 RBI.

During the 12 games in which Acha was out of the mix, the squad batted .219 with 78 hits, eight doubles, three home runs and 37 RBI. Projected into 33 games on that same pace, the Hornets would only have 186 hits, 16 doubles, six home runs and 74 RBI.

HOW LOW CAN HALL GO?

Junior Brandon Hall has silently made his way down the ERA ladder as the season has progressed.

Although he has not made as many appearances as most relievers, one must respect the efforts done in the amount of time given.

In nine appearances this year, the left-hander is 0-0 with a team-low 1.59 ERA, 11.1 innings pitched, six walks and 11 strikeouts. His opponents batting average is .225.

Since posting a 4.50 ERA on March 30, Hall has not allowed a run in 7.1 innings.

HORNET NOTABLES

Junior Craig Johnson currently leads the squad with 42 runs, 31 RBI, 41 walks, a .436 on-base percentage, five outfield assists and eight sacrifice bunts. He is also tied for the team lead with 13 stolen bases...freshman Mick Joyce is eligible to play after serving a four-game suspension. Joyce was ejected against Oregon State (April 18) for hitting a batter after a warning by the home-plate umpire. Hitting a batter (with or without intent) after being warned by the home plate umpire is an automatic four-game suspension...junior Ronnie Machado, Jr., committed his first error of the season on April 27.