The Hornets are now 4-6 while the Broncos improve to 5-5.

For the sixth consecutive game, senior second baseman Pat Keiper recorded multiple hits, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs. The Los Angeles native leads the team with a .475 batting average and 19 hits.

Junior right fielder Montana Dye also kept his 10-game hitting streak alive, going 1-for-3 and scoring two runs. The Glendora, Calif., native has now scored a team-leading nine runs.

The Broncos, who had 15 hits in the game compared to the Hornets’ nine, jumped out to an early 9-0 lead after three innings. Sacramento State right hander Cyrus Sarraf took the loss after pitching 2.1 innings and allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits.

Santa Clara was led by Brady Fuerst, Matt Long and Daniel Nava. Fuerst, who finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs, got the Broncos on the board with an RBI-double down the left field line in the second inning. Fuerst later scored on a wild pitch and Nava’s RBI-single to left field scored the Broncos’ fourth run of the inning. Nava was 2-for-4 on the day with two RBIs. Long was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and one run.

After Santa Clara put up five runs in the bottom of the third, Sacramento State retaliated by scoring three in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Dye singled and senior center fielder Jim Strombach was then walked by Santa Clara starter Chris Stansbury. Sophomore third baseman David Flores was then hit by Stansbury to load the bases for senior shortstop Everet Rincon. Rincon recorded the RBI to score Dye before Keiper’s single to left scored Strombach and Flores. Keiper’s eight RBIs tie for the team lead and Flores has now been hit five times in 2006.

The Hornets added a run in the fifth inning while Santa Clara put up two runs in the bottom of the seventh.

In the eighth inning Santa Clara pitcher John Irby walked Dye and Brian Conradi to lead off the inning and after both advanced on a passed ball, junior Patrick Cummins’ sacrifice fly to center field scored Dye.

Junior left fielder Gary Johnson then singled up the middle to score Conradi, followed by senior first baseman Brian Blauser, who produced a two-run double to left center to score Johnson and freshman Gabe Jacobo. Johnson, in his first season out of Sierra JC, has eight RBIs this year.

The fifth and final run of the inning was scored when sophomore Taylor Watanabe singled up the middle to score Blauser. The Aiea, Hawaii native is now hitting .461 this season with three RBIs.

Daniel DeMarco (2-1) pitched 3.0 innings in relief of Stansbury for the win. He allowed just one hit while holding the Hornet scoreless.

Sacramento State returns to Hornet Field this Thursday, hosting the third-annual River City Classic. Play begins Thursday at 10 a.m. with Washington State and Portland. Sacramento State will then host North Dakota State at 2 p.m.