Sacramento State is now 9-4 on the year while the Dons dropped to 2-5. The Hornets are off to their best start since the squad opened the year at 9-4 in 1993.

The Hornets jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when junior Craig Johnson hit a two-run homer over the center-field wall. Junior Jack Arroyo, who increased his team high hitting streak to 13 games, led off the inning with a single. Johnson followed with his second home run on the year.

San Francisco took its first lead in the game (3-2) after a two-run home run by Lucas DeLong and a sacrifice fly by Armand Gaerlan. With one out, Nick Cirbo singled to third before DeLong drove a ball over the left-field wall. In the next at-bat, Jonnie Knoble drew a walk from junior Warren Rosebrock and stole second. After Andrew Smith reached on a fielding error by junior Bret LeVier at short, Gaerlan drove in Knoble from third with a fly to center field.

The Dons increased their lead to 6-2 in the eighth after a home run by Gaerlan and a n RBI single by Royce Fukuroku and an error by Johnson in right field. With one out, Gaerlan hit a solo home run over the left-center wall off of junior Renecke Stelzriede. Chris Gnung followed with a single to center field and Joe Jacobitz walked to put two runners on base. With two out, Fukuroku hit a shallow fly to right center field. Johnson tried to make a play on the ball but let it get past him allowing Jacobitz to score from first.

Sacramento State cut the lead to 6-5 in the bottom of the eighth after a three-run homer by LeVier. After Steve Spurgeon came in to relieve starter Derek Tate, juniors Brett Flowers and Andy Hnilo hit consecutive singles to put runners on first and third. In the next at-bat, LeVier recorded his second homer of the season with a shot over the left-field wall.

The Hornets completed their comeback in the ninth after Acha hit a two-run homer over the left-field wall off of Patrick McGuigan. Johnson led off the inning with a walk and then advanced to second on a balk. In the next at-bat, Acha recorded his team-leading fifth home run on a 2-1 count.

Junior Andy Mohr (2-0) earned the win after pitching a perfect ninth with two strikeouts. Rosebrock got the no-decision after allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits while walking two and striking out five in 7.0 innings.

McGuigan (0-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing the walk-off homer to Acha. Tate also earned a no-decision after allowing only two runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out six in 7.0 innings.

Hnilo (3-for-3) and Acha (3-for-5) each led the squad with three hits while LeVier finished with three RBI. Arroyo also finished 2-for-5 to also lead the Hornet offense.

Genung, Jacobitz and DeLong each recorded two hits to lead the Dons.

The morning game at Hornet Field (9:30 a.m.) will feature USF against the winner of Cal Poly/Santa Clara. The Beaver Field at American River JC (11 a.m.) will be Saint Mary’s against the loser of Cal Poly/Santa Clara.

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