Left-hander Matt Campbell (2-5) pitched 6.2 innings in his second win of the season, allowing just four hits and one run while striking out three batters. Campbell, in seven starts this year, has pitched 49.1 innings and recorded 35 strikeouts.

Right-hander Marshall Plouffe picked up his team-leading third save of the season when he came on in the eighth inning with one runner on first base and one out. Plouffe, a fifth-year senior and Castaic, Calif., native retired five of the next six batters, striking out three.

The Hornets earned their lead early in the game, putting up two runs in the first inning. In the series, Sacramento State outscored the Vulcans 5-0 in the first inning and on the season, the Hornets have outscored opponents 32-18 in the first inning.

Again, it was junior right fielder Jim Strombach who started things off for Sacramento State. In the leadoff spot, Strombach doubled down the left field line. Senior Matt Wilson then doubled to left field, scoring Strombach. The second run was scored when senior Pedro Santiago singled up the middle to score Wilson.

In the series with the Vulcans, Wilson and Strombach were two of the top performers. Strombach, a Aiea, Hawaii, native batted .313 with five hits, three RBIs, three runs and one double. Wilson batted .333 with five hits, three RBIs, three runs and three doubles.

Sacramento State put up another run in the bottom of the third inning when sophomore Billy Sinacori singled up the middle to score junior Brian Conradi. The Hornets’ fourth and final run came in the seventh inning when Conradi singled up the middle scoring senior Travis Kassebaum.

Strombach finished the game 2-for-4 with one run while Wilson went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run. Santiago, a Fairfield, Calif., native tallied two hits in three at-bats with one RBI, while Conradi went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run. Freshman Taylor Watanabe also went 2-for-4.

John Matson (0-7) took the loss for Hawai’i-Hilo (3-33) after pitching 5.2 innings and allowing nine hits and three runs. At the plate, the Vulcans were led by second baseman Gary Ahu, Jr., who went 1-for-3 scoring the Vulcans only run of the game. Sean Tamura picked up the RBI when his sacrifice fly scored Ahu from third base in the fifth inning.

Sacramento State returns to Hornet Field at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12 for a game with Cal. Tuesday’s game can be heard on KSSU 1580 or via the internet on hornetsports.com. To access the internet broadcast click the Live Audio link at the top of the page and scroll down to baseball.

The Hornets will continue their home stand over the weekend, hosting a four-game series from April 15-17 with Utah Valley State.