Trevor Paine had a two-RBI double in the second inning and the Hornets won, 7-2.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento State baseball team hit five doubles over the first two innings en route to a 7-2 victory against Creighton on Wednesday afternoon at John Smith Field.
The Hornets (5-7) scored all seven of their runs in the first two innings as they chased two Creighton pitchers from the mound. The Bluejays (5-5) got two runs back in the fourth but could not climb back into the game.
Sacramento State is now 5-3 at home this season.
Senior Derrick Chung led off the first inning with a double to left and sophomore Justin Higley's sacrifice bunt to third was so well placed, he managed to reach first safely for a single while moving Chung to third. Both came home when freshman Rhys Hoskins doubled to deep right center. Sophomore Will Soto smacked another double off the wall in left center to bring home Hoskins and Soto eventually scored on junior Clay Cederquist's sacrifice fly to left.
After Creighton went down 1-2-3 in the top of the second, freshman Scotty Burcham led off the inning with a double to left center. Burcham moved to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a balk. Chung took a walk in the next at-bat and stole second. After a fly out, Hoskins also earned a walk and both came home on senior Trevor Paine's double to deep right (the Hornets' fifth in the first two innings).
The Hornets did not score again, but it wasn't needed as seven Sacramento State pitchers held the Bluejays to just two runs on four hits. Reliever Tyler Hoelzen (1-0) earned the win after coming in for starting pitcher Dallas Chadwick, who left in the first with an injury. Creighton starter Brandon Koenigstein (0-3) suffered the loss after giving up four runs and four hits on just eight pitches without recording an out in the first inning.
Junior Andrew Ayers led the Hornets with two hits while Hoskins and Paine each had two RBIs. Freshman reliever Brennan Leitao was strong in two hitless innings with two strikeouts.
After one home game today, the Hornets are back on the road this weekend for a three-game series at UC Riverside, starting at 6 p.m. on Friday. The Hornets and Highlanders will also meet at 1 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
