HORNETS FACE HAWAI’I IN KEY WAC ROAD SERIES
After dropping their last five games in Western Athletic Conference play, and there last six games overall, the Sacramento State Hornets will look to bounce back as they travel to Hawai’i to take on the Rainbows.
Hawai’i passed the Hornets in the WAC standings by taking home a series split at Louisiana Tech last weekend. The two teams are meeting for the second time this season, with Sacramento State taking home a four-game sweep at home in March. In that series, sophomore Tim Wheeler led the Hornet charge with a 7-for-15 performance at the plate, with two home runs, including a grand slam, and seven RBI. Hawai’i was led by Kevin Macdonald, who was 6-for-11 with five RBI.
On the season, the Rainbows are led by Brandon Haislet, who is batting .351 with four home runs and 25 RBI. Vinnie Catricala leads the team in RBI with 30. Both are natives of Sacramento. Another Sacramento native, Alex Bates, is the scheduled starter in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader.
The University of Hawai’i will have live audio of all four games of the series available at sportsradio1420.com, with legendary Hawai’i broadcaster Don Robbs calling the action. Live video is available for a fee for the first three games of the series at www.hawaiiantelmedia.com with Jim Leahey and Pat Eldredge on the call.
BASEBALL FALLS TO SANTA CLARA The Sacramento State Hornets came back from a 6-2 deficit against Santa Clara, but lost a 7-6 decision on Tuesday, April 29 at Stephen Schott Stadium.
Santa Clara opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as Matt Long hit a leadoff home run to right field, giving the Broncos a 1-0 lead. Before the inning was over, Tommy Medica would produce a RBI single and Jon Karcich would provide a sacrifice fly to give the home team a 3-0 advantage. The Hornets would get two runs back in the top of the second, as senior Wes Oberlin connected on a deep home run to center field to lead off the inning, cutting the lead to 3-1, before the Hornets would get an RBI groundout by senior Ryan Blair to trail by just one run.
The Broncos, however, scored three more runs in the bottom of the second, as Long hit a two-run triple down the right field line, and Ryan Conan connected on a RBI single, giving the Broncos a 6-2 lead. The score would stay that way until the top of the seventh, when the Hornets would get a sacrifice fly from senior David Flores and a RBI triple by junior Gabe Jacobo to pull to within two runs at 6-4.
The Hornets would tie the score at 6-6 in the top of the eighth, as junior Blake Crosby provided a RBI while reaching on an error, making it to second base as the throw attempt to retire him at first went into the Santa Clara dugout. Junior Hunter Martinez then singled home redshirt freshman Jay Jennings, who pinch ran for Crosby, to complete the Hornet comeback. The Broncos had an immediate answer, however, as Gabe Alcantar lead off the Santa Clara half of the eighth with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice by Brady Fuerst and scored on a RBI single by Long, his fourth RBI of the day, giving Santa Clara a 7-6 lead.
The Hornets had a chance in the ninth, as with two out and Oberlin on first base following a fielders choice, junior Jeff Roth hit an infield single, and both runners advanced to second and third on a Bronco throwing error on the play. Freshman Derrick Chung then walked, loading the bases with two out, but the Hornets were unable to bring the tying run home, falling 7-6.
Mark Willinksy (3-2) picked up the win for the Broncos, pitching the final 1.1 innings while allowing one hit and walking a batter. Junior Mike Weiss (0-1) picked up the loss, allowing one run on one hit, the Long single, in one inning of work. Neither starter factored in the decision, with the Hornets having four relievers out of the ‘pen combining for five innings of shutout baseball.
Oberlin led the Hornet charge as the only player with multiple hits, going 3-for-5 at the plate, only a triple short of the cycle. Five other Hornet hitters had a hit apiece, while six Hornets, Blair, Crosby, Flores, Jacobo, Martinez and Oberlin each provided a RBI. Long went 4-for-5 with four RBI to lead the Broncos, while ending the game just a double short of the cycle.
OBERLIN CONCLUDES HOT APRIL WITH 3-FOR-5 PERFORMANCE
Senior Wes Oberlin entered the month of April batting .258 at the plate, and concluded the month with a .353 batting average. Oberlin ended the month with a 3-for-5 performance against Santa Clara, which included a monsterous blast over the center field wall that hit the very top of the Broncos 20-foot batters eye. For the month, Oberlin was 31-for-71 at the plate (.437) with six home runs and 15 RBI in 19 games. He is also in the midst of a career-long 10 game hitting streak, which has included five multiple hit games.
D-FLO KNOWS RECORDS
Following his double in the Hornets victory over California on March 18, senior David Flores became the school’s all-time leader with 39 career doubles. He broke Chris Kinsey’s (2001-03) mark, which was 38, set in his three years in the Green and Gold. He has since added to his record, as his 21 doubles on the season give him 55 in his career, and also rank him second in the Western Athletic Conference. Flores has collected extra base hits at an astounding rate, as he has 33 singles on the season and 26 extra base hits (21 doubles and five home runs).
Flores leads the team in runs scored (39), while ranking second in hits (59), extra base hits (26), total bases (95) and stolen bases (8). He also ranks second in school history in hits with 203, and second all-time in runs scored with 115. He is tied for first all-time in being hit by a pitch, with his next HBP giving him the school record with 37.
JACOBO SHOWING HIS VERSATILITY ON THE FIELD AND IN THE BATTERS BOX
Need a left-fielder? A first baseman? How about a leadoff man? During the 2008 season, Hornet junior Gabe Jacobo has done it all. Jacobo, who led the team with a .363 batting average and 14 home runs last season while playing first base, came to Sacramento State from Tulare Western HS as, of all things, a shortstop. This season, the native of Tulare, Calif. has started 23 games in left field, and 20 games at first base. He has hit in the cleanup spot in 41 of his 43 starts, with the biggest deviation coming in a game against San Jose State when he batted leadoff. Jacobo has shown power at the plate, with 12 home runs and a .724 slugging percentage, but also has a sacrifice bunt and a .458 on base percentage to his credit. Jacobo also has been a threat on the basepaths, stealing seven bases on eight attempts so far this season. For his career, Jacobo is 16-of-19 on stolen base chances, and now has 26 career home runs, placing fourth on the Hornets all-time charts.
BLAIR MAKING MARCH TOWARD HORNET TRIPLE’S CROWN
Senior Ryan Blair has three triples during the 2008 season, and needs just one more to tie for the school’s all-time record. In his two-year career, Blair has accumulated seven triples, which places him in a tie for third all-time with Steve Eakes (1981). Lashelle Tarver (1980) is tied for the school’s record with Bob Crump (1985-86) with nine career triples. Blair is also in the midst of a 18 game hitting streak, the longest of his career.
MR. SMITH GOES TO RECORD BOOKS
The Hornets 8-2 win over Hilo on Sunday, April 20 marked the 829th career victory for Sacramento State head coach John Smith, as he passed Hall of Fame volleyball coach Debby Colberg to become the winningest head coach in Hornet history in terms of total victories.
HORNET BATS LEADING THE WAC
Sacramento State has seen its team batting average rise to .313 for the season, which is now the leading mark in the Western Athletic Conference. The Hornets have all struck out fewer times than any other team in the conference, while leading the conference in stolen bases.
ROSTER CHANGES FROM MEDIA GUIDE
There have been four roster changes to the Hornets’ lineup that are not reflected in the media guide. Three Hornets have changed numbers from what is established on the media guide roster: Richard Walker changed from #27 to #6, Doug Stinson changed from #39 to #27, and Mike Weiss changed from #42 to #35. Tommy Elrod (#8) joined the team. These changes are denoted on the stats available within the release, as well as the roster found on page four.
TOMMY ELROD BIO Note, Tommy Elrod’s bio is not found in the 2008 media guide, as he became an eligible member of the team after the guide had gone to press. His biographical information is found below. #8, Tommy Elrod, Sophomore, LHP Modesto, Calif./Cal State L.A./Modesto Christian HS
Prior to Sacramento State, Elrod pitched one year at Cal State Los Angeles for coach Pat Shine.He led Cal State L.A. to the Division II Championship Finals in Montgomery, Ala, after earning NCAA West Regional All-Tournament honors for throwing a three-hit shutout in game one of the regional final against Mesa State, while striking out nine. Made 14 appearances for the Golden Eagles, including six starts, while posting a 4-0 record with a 4.46 ERA. He struck out 37 batters in 38.1 innings pitched. Was a 2006 graduate of Modesto Christian High School in Modesto, Calif...four year letterwinner in baseball for coach Kelly Wheelock. He was born May 27, 1988. His parents are Tom and Jodie Elrod. He is majoring in civil engineering.
