The Hornets fall to 20-26 overall and 8-9 in the Western Athletic Conference, while the Rainbows improve to 31-12 and 9-6 in league.

Hawai’i starting pitcher Justin Costi (6-1) took command of the mound and held the Hornet offense to just four hits while recording six strikeouts in seven innings of work. While Costi was able to control the majority of Sacramento State’s starting lineup, senior first baseman Brian Blauser caused problems for the right-hander.

Blauser gave Sacramento State a 1-0 lead in the second inning, blasting the second pitch he saw from Costi over the wall in left center.

It was the Elk Grove, Calif., native’s team-leading eighth home run of the season and 15th of his career. Blauser finished the game 2-for-4 and also recorded his 11th double of the year.

The one-run lead was short lived for the Hornets, with two costly errors contributing to Hawai’i taking a 5-1 lead after four.

In the bottom of the second, Hawai’i responded with three runs on two hits and one Hornet error. With two outs, the Rainbows Esteban Lopez scored on errant throw to first from Lively. Derek Dupree’s two-run double off the right field wall brought in Jon Hee and Robbie Wilder to score the go-ahead runs for a 3-1 lead.

Hawai’i built its lead to four runs with Eli Christensen reaching on a two-base error by Lively in the bottom of the fourth. Christensen advanced to third on a wild pitch and eventually scored on a RBI single to center from Hee. Hee then scored the Rainbows’ fifth run on Dupree’s RBI groundout.

In the top of the fifth, Sacramento State chipped away at its four-run deficit when senior left fielder Brian Conradi was walked. The Bakersfield, Calif., native stole second and scored on a two-out single from starting shortstop Everet Rincon to put the Hornets’ second run on the board.

Lively (0-4) took the loss for the Hornets after pitching 5.2 innings and surrendering five runs on seven hits, two walks and two errors.