Cal State Hayward jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first after a two-run single by Jason Bumbaca to center field.

Sacramento State answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning after RBI singles by senior Tim Reimer and sophomore Matt Wilson, a two-run double by junior Mikela Olsen, and an RBI triple by junior John Acha.

The Hornets would increase their lead to 7-2 after scoring runs in the fourth and the fifth. In the fourth, freshman Jim Strombach scored from third after Reimer got caught in a rundown between first and second. With one out, Strombach laced a double down the left field line and then stole third. After Reimer was hit by a pitch, Pioneer starter Mike Felt caught Reimer leaning off of first and started the pickle by throwing to first base. Arce Estremera ran Reimer down to second and made the tag, allowing Strombach to trot home without a throw. In the fifth, Olsen doubled to left center and then scored on a single by junior Jesse Schmidt.

The Pioneers cut the lead to 7-4 in the sixth after Bumbaca drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field and Estremera drove in Manny Merel from third with a single to center field.

Cal State Hayward would make it 7-6 after scoring runs in the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh, Merel drove in Caleb Cooper from second with a single to center field. In the eighth, Shane Rutledge drove in Estremera from third with a fielder’s choice to short.

With one on and one out in the ninth, LeVier hit a slicing drive down the left field line that secured the victory for the Hornets.

Senior Steve Cuckovich (5-1) earned the win for the Hornets after allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out two and walking three in five and two-thirds innings. Junior Dan Smith got the final out in the sixth after retiring Rutledge with a pop to short with two men on base. Freshman Mel Cuckovich earned his first career save after pitching the final three innings of the contest.

Acha and Olsen each finished with three hits to lead the Hornet offense. Acha, a native of Turlock, Calif., became the first Hornet in the Div. I era (1990-present) to hit two triples in a contest. Olsen, a native of Oakhurst, Calif., finished with two RBI and raised his current hitting streak to 10 games. Schmidt, a native of San Diego, increased his team-high hitting streak to 16 games after finishing 1-for-4. He is now tied for fourth in program history and six games back of Casey Simpson (1992) for the program lead.

Felt (2-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing seven runs on 10 hits while striking out two and walking none in seven innings of work. Merel and Estremera each recorded two hits while Bumbaca led the Pioneers with three RBI.

Sacramento State and Cal State Hayward will play the final game of their three-game series on Sunday, April 6, at 1 p.m. at Hornet Field.