Sophomore Bobby Ciani |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sophomore Bobby Ciani was 4-for-5 and Mario Celillo added three hits, including a home run, to lift the Sacramento State baseball team to a 13-8 victory over Hawai‘i-Hilo Tuesday afternoon at Hornet Field.The victory improved the Hornets to 15-19 overall. The Vulcans dropped to 9-35-1.
Sacramento State jumped on the board with five first-inning runs. The team sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning and recorded six hits. The Hornets scored their runs on a single by Chris Kinsey, a passed ball, a double by Celillo and singles by Ciani and Everet Rincon.
Hilo answered with three runs in the second inning. The Vulcans took advantage of a Sacramento State throwing error, a double by former Sacramento City player Doug Nassimbene and a single by Daniel Rhodes to make it a two-run game.
The Hornets responded with four runs in the third inning to push the lead to 9-3. Freshman Bret LeVier opened the inning with a single before Kinsey hit his team-leading 13th home run of the season over the right-center field fence. After Danny Gill singled, Celillo hit his third round-tripper to straightaway center.
Each team added a run in the sixth inning before Hilo posted four runs in the seventh on a grand slam by Keola Park. The grand slam, which was the second allowed by Sacramento State in as many games, made the score 10-8. The Hornets bounced back with three runs in the bottom of the inning, two of which scored on a three-base throwing error on a sacrifice bunt.
Steve Cuckovich (1-0), who was making his first start of the season, picked up the win in a predetermined start. Joel Zimmerman (1-3) was dealt the loss for the Vulcans.
Joining Ciani and Celillo with multiple hits were Kinsey, Rincon and Casey Fuller. Hilo was led by former McClatchty HS and Cosumnes River JC player Scott McLaughlin’s 3-for-4 effort. Johnny Dudoit and Keola Park each added two hits.
Sacramento State will travel to Cal State Northridge for a three-game Big West Conference series this weekend. The team will return to Hornet Field on Tuesday, Apr. 23, to face Santa Clara at 2:30 p.m.
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Hawai‘i-Hilo (9-35-1) 030 001 400 - 8 13 2
Sacramento State (15-19) 540 001 30X - 13 16 1
WP - Steve Cuckovich (1-0)
LP - Joel Zimmerman (1-3)
Joel Zimmerman, Jeremiah Wolske (2), Clay Daugherty (7) and Nalei Sooto; Steve Cuckovich, Marshall Plouffe (5), Ryan Brown (6), Warren Rosebrock (7), Jeff Groeger (8) and Matt Wilson.
TOP HITTERS - HH - Scott McLaughlin 3x4, HR, 2B; Keola Park 2x5, HR, 4 RBI; Johnny Dudoit 2x5, 2B; Doug Nassimbene 2B; Daniel Lockett 2B. SAC: Bobby Ciani 4x5, 2B; Mario Celillo 3x4, HR, 2 2B; Chris Kinsey 2x5, HR; Everet Rincon 2x3, 2B; Casey Fuller 2x3.
