Hornets take series from first-place Louisiana Tech

After dropping the series opener against first-place Louisiana Tech, Sacramento State reenergized to pull off consecutive one-run victories and take the conference series.

Currently fourth place in the WAC with an 8-7 league record, the Hornets earned an 11-10 victory on Saturday in a 10-inning nailbiter. Sunday''s series finale was the complete opposite, with Sacramento State recording just three hits in its 2-1 victory.

With the offense struggling against Louisiana Tech''s Jericho Jones, Hornet left-hander John Schlager did a little work of his own to keep his team within striking distance. In his first start of the year, the junior from Richmond, Calif., pitched eight innings and allowed just one run – a homer to Jones – while recording nine strikeouts, tying the season''s single game-high set by Matt Campbell earlier in the year.

After Jones'' deep shot to center field in the seventh, it was Sacramento State left fielder Brian Conradi who returned the favor. With one out, sophomore David Flores recorded the Hornets'' second hit of the game with a single to left field, setting up Conradi''s two-run shot to left that landed on top of the parking structure.

With the 2-1 series victory, Sacramento State snapped Louisiana Tech''s eight-game winning streak and also handed the Bulldogs their first consecutive losses since March 25. For the Hornets, it was their third conference series victory of the year.

Conradi''s Clutch

Senior records two game-winning RBIs Brian Conradi''s game-winning home run was not the only heroics of the weekend for the Bakersfield, Calif., native. The second-year outfielder was also responsible for the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the 10th inning during Saturday''s 11-10 victory.

With the bases loaded and one out, Conradi''s RBI fielder''s choice was hit to the Bulldogs'' shortstop, but deep enough to give center fielder Jim Strombach the time needed to break from third and beat the throw in a play at the plate. Strombach led off the inning with a double to right center and advanced to third on Buddy Morales'' sacrifice bunt before Pat Keiper and David Flores were intentionally walked to load the bases.

The Hornets were set up for the game-winning score when junior Billy Sinacori retired the side in order in the top of the 10th.

Sophomore Sensation

Flores owning the plate

Sophomore David Flores continues to lead the WAC, hitting .500 against league competition. The Hornets'' starting third baseman is 25-for-50 from the plate in conference play with a team-best 17 RBIs, nine doubles and 12 runs scored.

On the year as a whole, Flores now leads the team batting .345 with a team-leading eight multiple-RBI games. Currently on a four-game hitting streak, the Union City, Calif., native hit .500 (5-for-10) against the Bulldogs with five RBIs, three runs scored and two doubles.

While his offensive numbers speak volumes, Flores has become a defensive wall at third base. In Sunday''s 2-1 victory, the 2004 James Logan High School graduate made a diving grab and threw out the leading base runner to record the second out of the ninth inning and keep the tying run at first base.

Closing Them Down

Late-inning specialist

Junior right-hander Billy Sinacori failed to make an appearance on the mound in 2005, but Sacramento State''s closer is making up for lost time in 2006.

The 2003 Placer High School graduate continues to take control of the game and give the Hornets much-needed momentum down the stretch. In two appearances over the weekend, Sinacori earned the victory on Saturday in two innings of work, before picking up his fifth save on Sunday in ninth-inning relief of John Schlager.

Sinacori''s five saves rank him second in the WAC and in 3.0 innings of work against the Bulldogs, he gave up one unearned run on two hits and no walks, entering both games with runners on base. He leads the staff with a 2.52 ERA and has struck out 16 in 25.0 innings.

A Series of Threes

Seniors making the most of it

While Sacramento State''s young guns continue to come up big, the senior class remains in pursuit of what will be its first postseason appearance. With the Hornets gunning for a spot in the WAC tournament, the 12-member senior contingent has been quietly working toward its goal.

As a team, Sacramento State is batting .313 to lead the WAC in conference play, with seven everyday players batting over .300. Of those seven, four are seniors, led by Everet Rincon (.340). The Hornets'' starting shortstop is tied for the team lead with eight sacrifices, bringing his all-time program total to 31. The Riverside, Calif., native not only retains order of the infield, but produced a single-game career-high three RBIs in Saturday''s victory.

Buddy Morales (.333) didn''t come up with three RBIs on Saturday, but instead was hit by a pitch in three of his first four trips to the plate. It was the second time this season the Hornets'' starting catcher has been struck three times, raising his season total to 14. The West Covina, Calif., native has recorded 12 multiple-hit games and ranks in the top-five of eight offensive categories with a .308 average, 44 hits, 20 RBIs, 27 runs scored, 11 doubles, a .448 slugging percentage and a .405 on-base percentage.

Senior Jim Strombach (.326) recorded a season-high three runs, including the game-winner, in Saturday''s victory. One of Sacramento State''s most dangerous players on the bags, Strombach leads the team with 10 stolen bases. The Aiea, Hawaii, native scored his first run in the sixth inning, reaching on a single, stealing second and moving to third on an error, before scoring on a wild pitch. In the eighth, Strombach gave the Hornets a 10-9 lead, moving from first to third on Morales'' single and scoring on a passed ball.

The last of the seniors is Brian Conradi (.316). With starts in center and left field, he has been perfect defensively in conference competition including a spectacular catch against the wall in the fifth inning with the bases loaded on Sunday. In addition to his game-winning RBIs, Conradi hit .308 in the Louisiana Tech series with four RBIs, four hits, three runs scored and one double.

The Opponents

UC Davis and Hawai''i

UC Davis (13-22) enters the game having lost its last six games. The Aggies last victory came on April 13, with a 2-1 victory over top-ranked Cal State Fullerton.

Tyler LaTorre leads the team with 49 hits and a .412 batting average, while Lukas Kirby has a team-leading 21 RBIs with a .307 average.

Hawai''i had its four-game winning streak snapped with a 5-3 loss to New Mexico State on Sunday. The Rainbows, who are batting .297 as a team, are led by Justin Frash''s .400 average. Frash also leads the team with 37 RBIs, a .536 slugging percentage and .517 on-base percentage.

A Fresh Start

Welcome to the WAC

Mission Impossible no longer. Sacramento State has ended its three-year stint competing as an independent team, and will begin 2006 competing as an affiliate member of the Western Athletic Conference.

The league includes Fresno State, Hawai''i, Nevada, San Jose State, New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech, with the top six teams advancing to the conference tournament held May 25-28. The outright winner of the postseason tourney will receive the WAC''s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Hornets last competed in conference play from 1997-2002 in the Big West and were members of the WAC from 1993-96.

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 28th season as a head coach, he has posted 789 wins, ranking him among the top 40 active Division I coaches. The 789 victories and his 27-year tenure are also the most by any coach in Sacramento State baseball history. Smith''s current mark is 789-765.

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.