SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Junior Brian Blauser went 3-for-5 from the plate with two RBIs and two runs in the Hornets’ 7-5 victory over Hawai’i-Hilo on Thursday afternoon at Hornet Field. The Elk Grove, Calif., native also hit his first home run of the season, sending a solo shot over the right field wall in the fifth inning.The win improves the Hornets, who are on a two-game winning streak, to 10-19-1. The Vulcans fall to 2-32 on the year.
Sacramento State right-hander Ethan Katz (3-6) earned his third win of the season, pitching 7.1 innings and allowing three runs and eight hits with three strikeouts. After the third inning, Katz settled down, retiring 12 of 14 batters until the eighth inning.
Senior right-hander Marshall Plouffe earned the save, his second of the season, when he came on in the ninth inning with the score 7-4 and a runner on second base. The Canoga Park, Calif., native allowed just one hit before recording the final three outs of the inning.
Junior Josh Levin was one of four Hornets to record doubles in the game. The San Jose, Calif., native went 2-for-4 from the plate with one RBI and one run. He also continues to lead the team in doubles with 10. Also recording RBIs for Sacramento State were seniors Matt Wilson and Brett Flowers and juniors Brian Conradi and Everet Rincon.
Rincon is now on a four-game hitting streak, tying his longest of the season. Wilson is also on a four-game hitting streak.
After four innings, Sacramento State had a 3-1 lead, before scoring consecutive runs in the following four innings.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Blauser homered to give the Hornets a 4-1 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, Rincon singled up the middle with two outs to score sophomore Billy Sinacori, bringing the score to 5-1. Blauser then recorded his third hit of the game, when he singled down the left field line, scoring Wilson. The Hornets scored their final run of the game in the eighth inning, when Wilson’s sacrifice fly allowed Levin to cross the plate, making the score 7-3.
The Vulcans made a valiant effort scoring four runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Christopher Campbell led Hawai’i-Hilo with three hits in five at-bats, two RBIs and one run. Johnny Dudoit also had three hits along with one RBI and one run. Right fielder Sean Tamura scored two runs for the Vulcans and also added a hit.
John Pinasco (1-5) took the loss for Hawai’i-Hilo after pitching six innings and allowing seven hits and five runs (four earned).
Hawai’i-Hilo and Sacramento State will resume their four-game series at 2 p.m. on Friday at Hornet Field. Saturday’s and Sunday’s games will start at 1 p.m. All the games can be heard on KSSU 1580 and www.hornetsports.com. To access the broadcast over the internet click the Live Audio link at the top of the page and scroll down to baseball.
