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WHEELER, FLORES EACH HAVE THREE HITS IN 8-5 WIN OVER HAWAI'I
4/7/2007
 SACRAMENTO, Calif. — David Flores and Tim Wheeler each had three hits to help lead the Sacramento State baseball team to an 8-5 win over Hawaii, Saturday afternoon at Hornet Field. The win thwarted the Rainbows attempt at a three-game sweep and improved the Hornets to 10-22 overall and 5-7 in Western Athletic Conference play. Hawaii dropped to 24-12 overall and 5-4 in league games.
Wheeler put Sacramento State on the board in the second inning with a two-out double to left field which scored Travis Kirkman. The team then stretched its lead with three runs in the third. Gabe Jacobo singled through the left side and moved to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Jacobo was balked to third and then scored on an infield single from Flores. A single by Kirkman placed runners on the corners before Wheeler doubled to left center to score two.
The Rainbows posted their first run in the sixth inning behind a leadoff double from Jonathan Hee. Hee was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sac fly from Justin Frash.
The Hornets matched the run and added an additional run in the bottom of the sixth. Jeff Hannah singled, Montana Dye doubled and Flores singled to score one to start the inning. With one out, Wheeler singled to center to score Dye.
The late-game scoring barrage continued in the seventh. Hawaii scored one on a single from Eli Christensen. However, the Hornets posted two runs on an RBI-double from Dye and single from Jacobo.
Leading 8-2 entering the eighth inning, Sacramento State opted to stick with starting pitcher Mick Joyce. However, Joyce surrendered a ledoff single to Jorge Franco and was replaced by Cyrus Sarraf. Frash immediately doubled to center field to score Franco. Kris Sanchez then homered to right field for the final runs of the game.
Joyce (2-4) earned the win after throwing 7.0 innings. The senior gave up six hits and three earned runs while walking three and striking out one. Joshua Schneider was handed the loss and dropped to 3-2. Schneider, who entered the game with a 1.91 ERA, gave up seven hits and four earned runs in four innings.
Wheeler led the Hornet offense, going 3-for-4 with four RBI. The freshman concluded the three-game series, 8-for-12, including seven hits in his last eighth at-bats. Flores was also 3-of-4 and drove in three runs. Jacobo, Dye and Kirkman each added a pair of hits.
Frash, Sanchez and Christensen had two hits apiece to lead the Rainbows.
Sacramento State will return to the diamond on Tuesday, Apr. 10, when it travels to USF to take on the Dons.
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