Sacramento State’s games at Washington State this weekend can be heard on www.wsucougars.com by clicking on the "Audio/Video" link and scrolling down to the broadcast schedule for baseball.

Earlier this year, the Cougars earned the River City Classic title with a 6-2 win over the Hornets on Feb. 22 at Hornet Field. WSU scored five runs in the top of the fourth to give freshman Justin Demé his first loss of the season.

Last season, Sacramento State finished 1-2 against Washington State (11-17, 5-14, 15-14) in a three-game series in Pullman, Wash.

The Hornets will complete the 2004 season with a three-game set against Northern Colorado on May 14-16.

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 748 wins, ranking him among the top 60 active Division I coaches. The 748 victories and his 26-year tenure are also the most by any coach in Sacramento State baseball history. Smith''s current mark is 748-704.

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 going 1-2 at San Jose State over the weekend, the Hornets used the long ball to defeat San Francisco, 8-6, on May 4 at Hornet Field.

Senior Jack Arroyo and sophomore Brian Blauser each hit two home runs and drove in four RBI.

Junior Brandon Hall earned his first collegiate win while sophomore James Wheeler tallied his second save.

WHO''S ON THE MOUND?

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 on April 24.

In his next start at San Jose State, Katz allowed four runs on 12 hits while walking one and striking out eight batters in a 4-3 loss on April 30.

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.

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.

If he stays on his current trend of starts, the right-hander should be lights out in his next appearance over the weekend.

A transfer from East Los Angeles JC, Katz leads the Hornet pitching staff with a 7-5 record, a 3.80 ERA, five complete games, one shutout, 97.0 innings pitched and 83 strikeouts.

JOHNSON BLOWING UP

Junior Craig Johnson has been swinging a mean stick in his recent six-game hitting streak and the Hornet offense has benefitted from it.

Since April 24, the right fielder is batting .500 (10-20) with three doubles, six runs, six RBI, three walks, three stolen bases and three hits by pitches. Included in the mix was a 3-for-3 effort on May 2.

For his efforts, the Porterville, Calif., native was named Div. I Independent Co-Player of the Week on May 4. He previously earned Div. I Independent Newcomer of the Week honors on March 30.

During his recent stretch, the lefty has increased his batting average from .287 to .311.

Johnson currently leads the squad with three triples, 36 RBI, 44 walks, a .458 on-base percentage, nine sacrifice bunts and 16 stolen bases. He is also tied for the team lead with nine doubles.

A LOOK AT THE HORNETS

This Week’s Probable Starters

Saturday at Washington State, May 8, 7 p.m.

W. Rosebrock (4-8, 6.20) vs. A. McKenzie (5-5, 5.71)

Sunday at Washington State, May 9, 2 p.m.

E. Katz (7-5, 3.80) vs. A. Trolia (4-4, 5.33)

Monday at Washington State, May 10, 11 a.m.

A. Mohr (4-1, 5.22) vs. G. Alwert (4-2, 5.40)

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 .316 average, a .506 slugging percentage and 12 multi-RBI games. He is also tied for the team lead with eight home runs.

An interesting point to the value of Acha in the lineup is Sacramento State''s team 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.

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 10 appearances this year, the left-hander is 1-0 with a team-low 1.42 ERA, 12.2 innings pitched, six walks and 12 strikeouts. His opponents batting average is .222.

Since posting a 4.50 ERA on March 30, Hall has not allowed a run in 8.2 innings.

PUT ME IN COACH

Junior Travis Kassebaum spent the majority of the season on the Hornet bench but a recent opportunity has changed that.

In 51 games, Kassebaum was batting .231 (3-13) with six runs, a double and an RBI.

In his last three starts, the left fielder is hitting .444 (4-for-9) with a run.

He became the fourth Hornet (Browne, Hnilo and Strombach) to start in left field this season.

HORNET NOTABLES

Senior Jack Arroyo has recorded four home runs in his last four games. He now leads the squad with 70 hits, 48 runs, 101 total bases and 21 multi-hit games...juniors Craig Johnson, Ethan Katz and Bret LeVier have drawn interest from major league ballclubs for the upcoming MLB Amateur Draft.