The Hornets, who have won six of their last seven games, improve to 17-21 overall and 6-5 in the Western Athletic Conference. The Spartans fall to 23-15 and 4-4 in the WAC. The three-game conference series is now even 1-1, with the rubber game scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

Once again Sacramento State was led by Flores, the Hornets’ starting third baseman. The Union City, Calif., native finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs scored, one double and one stolen base. The current WAC Hitter of the Week, Flores has now doubled in his last five games and is hitting .556 against WAC competition while leading the team on an eight-game hitting streak.

After falling behind by a run in he top of the first, the Hornets responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Flores hit a two-run single to center, scoring junior Patrick Cummins and senior Buddy Morales. Senior Jim Strombach, currently on a five-game hitting streak, singled to left field, bringing in Brian Blauser from third.

With a 3-1 lead, the Hornets added two runs in the third. A double down the left field line from Flores scored Blauser and advanced Keiper to third. Keiper was thrown out at home on Strombach’s fielder’s choice, but with Strombach on first, the Aiea, Hawaii native, stole his ninth base of the season while San Jose State catcher Brody Massman committed a throwing error, allowing Flores to score from third.

San Jose State starter Branden Dewing was relieved in the third inning in his shortest outing of the season after allowing five runs (four earned ) on six hits.

The Spartans added a run in the fourth and tied the game 6-6 in the fifth, when Sacramento State starter Matt Campbell surrendered a three-run homer to designated hitter Chris Williammee over the left field wall. With just one out, Sam Hall then singled to center field, but Flores made a diving grab on Nick Epedendio’s grounder, turning the double play and escaping the inning.

The Hornet offense once again responded in the bottom of the inning, with Morales leading off with a double off the center field wall. The West Covina, Calif., native advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored the go-ahead run on a balk. Keiper kept the inning alive with a single to right field and advanced to third on a single from Flores. Strombach’s infield chopper scored Keiper from third for the second run of the inning. Senior Ronnie Machado flied out to center, advancing Flores to third and Strombach to second for senior Everet Rincon, whose RBI-single scored Flores for the Hornets’ final run.

Strombach is batting .337 on the year and was 2-for-4 in the game with two RBIs. Currently, on a seven-game hitting streak, Rincon is now hitting .359 against WAC competition.

Junior Gary Johnson finished the game 2-for-5, continuing to lead the team with 52 hits and 17 multiple-hit games. Blauser finished 2-for-4, recording his eighth multiple-hit game of the year.

Campbell (4-6) earned the win for Sacramento State, pitching 7.0 innings and allowing six runs on 10 hits.

Brandon Hennessey took the loss for the Spartans, pitching 2.0 innings and allowing three runs on three hits.

The Hornets found themselves in trouble down the stretch, loading the bases in both the eighth and ninth innings. Senior James Wheeler came on in the eighth, forcing John Shaffer into a double play before striking out Justin Santich-Highes to end the inning. In the ninth, the bases were again loaded with one out when Sinacori came on. Nick Epidendio was walked, scoring Ryan Angel, but Rincon turned the double play to record the final outs of the game.

Saturday’s rubber game will begin at 1 p.m. at Hornet Field. The game can be heard on www.hornetsports.com with Dylan McKenzie providing the play-by-play.