Once again the Hornet offense was potent, posting 11 runs on 15 hits, led by Pat Keiper, Gary Johnson, Buddy Morales and Montana Dye.

On the mound, junior left hander Mick Joyce (2-0) earned the win, pitching 6.0 innings and allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out five.

Now on a three-game winning streak, Sacramento State improves to 4-5 and remains undefeated at home with a 3-0 record. The Gaels fall to 4-4.

For the second consecutive game, the Hornets did the majority of their damage in the first inning. After the Gaels went up 1-0 in the top of the first, the Hornets responded scoring five runs. With the bases loaded and no outs, senior designated hitter Kyle Atrat earned his sixth RBI in the last three games when his sacrifice fly to right field scored Keiper.

Keiper, the Hornets’ starting second baseman, went 3-for-5 on the day, recording his fifth consecutive multiple hit game. The Los Angeles native leads the team with a .444 batting average and 16 hits. The hits continued with Morales recording an RBI-single to left field scoring Johnson and Montana Dye’s RBI-single to left that scored Brian Blauser. With Dye on second and Morales on third, sophomore third baseman David Flores then recorded an two-run single to left field for the final runs of the inning.

The Hornets continued the offensive attack, posting runs in the next five innings. Sacramento State totaled 15 hits in the game and in its last three games has accumulated 42 hits.

In he sixth inning, Dye sent a solo shot over the wall in left center, for his second home run of the season. The Glendora, Calif., native leads the team with a nine-game hitting streak and is batting .382 on the year with six RBIs.

Morales went 3-for-5 on the day, scoring three runs with one RBI. The West Covina, Calif., native is on a five-game hitting streak and is batting .406 with three doubles.

Junior left fielder Gary Johnson went 2-for-4 on the day with an RBI and his first career triple. The Del Campo High School graduate now has five-multiple hit games and has six RBIs. In the top of the fifth inning and with a runner on third, Johnson made a diving grab over his shoulder in left center for the third out.

Senior shortstop Everet Rincon went 2-for-4 on the day and is now hitting .344 on the year, while senior center fielder Jim Strombach recorded his second double of the year with a shot down the left field line.

Ian Farmer (0-2) took the loss for Saint Mary’s after pitching 2.2 innings and surrendering eight runs on 10 hits.

The Gaels posted three runs in the seventh inning backed by Preston Young’s two-run homer to right center. Delaney Gallagher led Saint Mary’s going 3-for-4.

Sacramento State will next play at Santa Clara on Tuesday with a 3 p.m. start. The Hornets will also host the third annual River City Classic starting on Thursday, Feb. 23. The first game of the day will feature Washington State and Portland at 10 a.m. The Hornets will follow playing North Dakota State at 2 p.m.