The Sacramento State baseball team (18-12) and Dartmouth (9-6) each won a game as the Hornets opened their four-game series against the Big Green with a doubleheader split, Saturday at Hornet Field. The Hornets are now 10-10 on the season while the Big Green increased their record to 2-2. In the first game, junior Mikela Olsen and sophomore Bret LeVier each finished 4-for-6 from the plate to lead the Hornet offense to a season-high 18 runs and 23 hits. Sacramento State tallied runs in six of eight innings to outlast the Big Green’s 12 run 14 hit performance and while also committing five errors in the field.
Olsen, a native of Oakhurst, Calif., recorded two home runs for the second-consecutive game while also tallying a career-high six RBI. Olsen, who hit two home runs on March 11 against UC Davis, became the first Hornet to record multiple homers in back-to-back games since Dan Elorduy accomplished the feat in 1998 (March 14-15). Olsen now leads the squad with seven home runs and 30 RBI.
LeVier recorded a hit in his first four at-bats to earn his career high for hits in a contest. A native of Whittier, Calif., LeVier also finished with a run, two RBI and a career-high two steals. Junior Chris Kinsey (3-for-4, three RBI) and sophomore Everet Rincon (3-for-5, two RBI) also finished with at least three hits for the Hornets.
Junior Chris Kinsey (2-2) recorded the win after allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits while striking out four and walking two in five innings of work.
Patrick Dowling (0-1) earned the loss after giving up 10 runs on 14 hits while striking out two and walking three in four and two-thirds innings.
Senior Corey Watts was taken out of the contest in the second inning after dislocating his ankle and fracturing his fibula while sliding into second base.
In the second game, Scott Shirrell and Brian Zurhellen each recorded two hits and three RBI to give the Big Green its first win since March 1.
After exchanging leads three times in the first three innings, Dartmouth took control of the contest with three runs in the fourth after a two-run triple by Shirrell and a sacrifice fly to center by Ed Lucas. The Big Green would add an insurance run in the fifth with an RBI single by Shirrell.
Tim Grant (1-0) earned the complete game victory by allowing only four hits (six runs) and striking out four and walking three in seven innings.
Junior Andy Mohr (0-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing two runs on one hit and walking two in the fourth.
LeVier (1-for-2) drove in four runs, including a three-run home run, to lead the Hornet offense.
Sacramento State and Dartmouth will face each other again on Sunday, March 16, at 1 p.m. before concluding the series on Monday, March 17, at 2 p.m.
