Sacramento State is now 0-3 to start the season while the Dons improve to 2-3. The teams will play the second game of the three-game series, Saturday at 1 p.m. in San Francisco before coming back to Hornet Field for a 1 p.m. start on Sunday.

With a 6-5 advantage heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Dons extended their lead, tacking on three runs and putting things out of reach.

With Blake Nelson at third base and Joey Railey at second, Sacramento State right-hander Cyrus Sarraf intentionally walked Scott Cousins. Sarraf struck out the Dons’ Stefan Gartrell, but Luke Sommer then doubled to right center scoring all three runners.

Senior first baseman Brian Blauser led Sacramento State, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs. The Elk Grove, Calif., native hit his first home run of the season and eighth of his career when he homered to left field, leading off the third inning. Senior catcher Buddy Morales went 3-for-4 from the plate and played a part in the Hornets taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Sacramento State got on the scoreboard first when senior Ronnie Machado, Jr. led off the inning with a single. He advanced to second on Gary Johnson’s sacrifice bunt and after Pat Keiper was walked, Machado scored on Blauser’s single to left field. Morales then singled down the left field line to score Keiper.

Johnson went 2-for-4 from the plate and recorded an RBI when his single to left scored Montana Dye from second base in the sixth inning. Senior Jim Strombach also had an RBI in the fifth inning, scoring Blauser. Senior Everet Rincon was 2-for-4 on the afternoon.

Senior right-hander Travis Kane (0-1) took the loss for the Hornets after pitching 4.1 inning and allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits. The Walla Walla, Wash., native also totaled eight strikeouts, tying his career high.

Stefan Gartrell hit a two-run blast in the bottom of the eighth inning as San Francisco finished the game with 12 hits and six doubles. Gartrell was 3-for-4 from the plate while Mitchell Bialosky was 2-for-5 with an RBI.

Patrick McGuigan (1-1) earned the win for the Dons, allowing five runs (four earned) on 10 hits while striking out three. Jeff Gordon earned the save, pitching 3.1 innings and holding Sacramento State scoreless on two hits.