BASEBALL COMPLETES FOUR-GAME SERIES SWEEP WITH 8-2 WIN OVER HAWAI'I-HILO

4/20/2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Behind a solid outing by senior Corey Weglin and a 6-for-10 performance at the plate from their third and fourth place hitters, the Sacramento State baseball team defeated Hawai’i-Hilo by a score of 8-2 on Sunday, April 20, sweeping the four-game series this weekend at Hornet Field.

With the win, the Hornets move to 19-18 overall, while the Vulcans fall to 13-21. The win marked the 829th career win for Hornet head coach John Smith, as he passed Hall of Fame volleyball coach Debby Colberg to become the winningest head coach in Hornet history in terms of total victories.

Sacramento State did all of its damage in the middle four innings, and pushed the games first run across the board in the bottom of the third, as sophomore Tim Wheeler hit a RBI single through the right side of the infield, scoring senior David Flores, giving the Hornets a 1-0 lead. Hawai’i-Hilo answered back in the top of the fourth, as Peter Rodgers hit a RBI infield single, scoring Michael Higa, who had advanced to third on a throwing error, for an unearned run, tying the score at 1-1.

The Hornets retook the lead in the bottom of fourth on a two-run single by senior Taylor Watanabe, scoring junior Blake Crosby and senior Travis Kirkman, making the score 3-1 in favor of Sacramento State. Junior Gabe Jacobo then led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to left field, his 12th of the season and third of the series, pushing the advantage to 4-1.

More insurance came in the bottom of the sixth for the Hornets, as freshman Derrick Chung led off the inning with a single, and advanced to second on a single by freshman Brent Hottman. Watanabe then laid down a bunt, advancing the runners to second and third for senior Ryan Blair, who singled to left field, scoring Chung, to make the score 5-1. Following a pop out, Jacobo singled through the left side, scoring Hottman to push the advantage to 6-1. Blair and Jacobo then executed a double steal, and Wheeler was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for senior Wes Oberlin, who hit a two-run double down the left field line, giving the Hornets an 8-1 lead.

The Vulcans scored one run in the top of the ninth on a RBI single by A.J. Satele, scoring Michael Higa, who reached on an error, to account for the final margin of 8-2.

Weglin (1-2) had his second straight strong Sunday outing, allowing one unearned run on seven hits without surrendering a walk in six innings of work. Freshman Chris Baek pitched a scoreless seventh, which was followed by junior Mike Weiss striking out the side in the eighth and junior Eric Fregosi allowing one unearned run in the ninth. Brian Shannon (1-3) picked up the loss for the Vulcans, allowing seven runs, all earned, on 13 hits in 5.2 innings pitched. John Holley came on for the final two frames for Hawai’i-Hilo, and allowed just one hit and two baserunners.

Jacobo and Flores led the squad with a pair of 3-for-5 days at the plate, with Jacobo adding two runs and two RBI, while Flores notched his team-leading 19th double of the season. Watanabe was 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Oberlin also drove in a pair. Higa and Ogawa went 2-for-4 to lead the Vulcans, with Higa scoring both of the teams runs and Ogawa providing a RBI.

The Hornets will play five games this coming week, traveling to San Francisco on Tuesday for a mid-week affair against the Dons before hosting New Mexico State for a four-game Western Athletic Conference series on Friday-Sunday at Hornet Field.