Sacramento State enters the week with a 24-17 record after defeating Arizona (12-11) and Centenary (11-8, 12-9, 13-9) last week before falling to fourth-ranked Stanford (5-1) on April 22. The Hornets, who ended their season-high tying four-game winning streak with Tuesday''s loss, are off to their best start after 41 games since 1993 (25-16).

Hawai''i-Hilo enters the game with an 8-34 mark after being swept by Washington (13-1, 9-2, 10-2) over the weekend before dropping a 10-0 contest to Pacific on April 22.

As of April 24, Arizona was 28-15 after being shut out by Grand Canyon on April 22, at Brazelle Stadium. The Wildcats travel to fourth-ranked Stanford for a three-game series beginning on April 25.

Head Coach John Smith

Since taking over the program in November of 1978, Smith has produced 16 winning seasons, including 10 years with at least 30 wins and four years with at least 40 wins. In his 25th seasons as a head coach, he has posted 718 wins, ranking him among the top-60 active Division I coaches. The 718 wins and his 25-year tenure are also the most by any coach in Sacramento State baseball history. Smith''s current mark is 718-667.

Smith has led the team to four NCAA postseason appearances, winning two regional crowns and two trips to the NCAA Div. II Championship. Smith was named American Baseball Coaches Association/NCAA Western Regional Coach of the Year twice, in 1986 and 1988.

Several Smith-coached players have advanced to the minor and major leagues. Most recently, Casey Fuller signed with the Colorado Rockies in June and Jeff Groeger inked with the Cincinnati Reds in August of 2002. Chad Elliott and Casey Martinez were drafted in the 2000 Amateur Draft, and Jesse Krebs and Jimmy McFarland each signed free agent contracts that same year.

A native of Redding, Calif., Smith spent three years in the U.S. Army Special Forces as a Green Beret. He played collegiately at Sacramento State in 1971 and 1972 and began his coaching career the following season. After five seasons as the head coach at Encina HS in Sacramento, Smith took over the Hornet program in 1978.

A Look at the Latest Action

Junior Jesse Schmidt extended his hitting streak to 24 games but the Hornets could not overcome a 3-for-4 performance by Carlos Quentin as Sacramento State fell to fourth-ranked Stanford, 5-1, on April 22 at Hornet Field. The contest was originally scheduled for April 12, but was postponed due to rain.

Stanford got on the board first after an RBI single by Danny Putnam in the fourth inning.

Sacramento State tied the contest at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning after a solo homer by Kinsey. For the Elk Grove native, it was his sixth round tripper of the season.

The Cardinal put three runs on the board in the fifth after a sacrifice fly by Brian Hall and a two-run homer by Quentin.

Stanford added another run in the eighth after a solo home run by Putnam.

Jonny Dyer (1-1) earned the win after allowing one run on two hits while striking out one and walking one in 1.2 innings.

Kinsey (5-4) was tagged with the loss after giving up five runs (four earned) with one walk and eight strikeouts in eight innings of work.

The Hawai''i-Hilo Vulcans

Joey Estrella is in his 26th year at the helm of the Vulcan baseball program and has amassed a 518-650-4 overall record.

Last season, Hawai''i-Hilo finished with a 10-38-1 overall record.

Senior outfielder Kaliko Oligo leads the Vulcan offense with a .329 batting average (46-for-140), 46 hits, four triples and a .436 slugging percentage.

Senior catcher Nalei Sooto is second on the squad with a .318 average, 41 hits, 56 total bases and a .434 slugging percentage.

The Arizona Wildcats

Andy Lopez is in his second season with the Arizona baseball program and has amassed a 55-36 overall record. Lopez is 746-457-6 after coaching stops at Pepperdine and Florida.

Last season, the Wildcats went 31-24 including a 9-15 mark in the Pac-10 (T7th).

Sophomore outfielder Jeff Van Houten leads the Arizona offense with a .431 batting average (66-for-153), 66 hits, 11 home runs and 58 RBI.

A Look at the Hornets

This Week’s Probable Starters

Thursday vs. Hawai''i-Hilo (1), April 24, 12:30 p.m.

M. Plouffe (5-3, 3.22) vs. TBA

Thursday vs. Hawai''i-Hilo (2), April 24

S. Cuckovich (6-2, 4.94) vs. TBA

Saturday vs. Hawai''i-Hilo (1), April 26, Noon

S. Correa (1-0, 6.39) vs. TBA

Saturday vs. Hawai''i-Hilo (2), April 26

J. Wheeler (0-1, 7.71) vs. TBA

Sunday vs. Hawai''i-Hilo, April 27, 1 p.m.

D. Smith (2-1, 5.63) vs. TBA

Monday vs. Arizona, April 28, 11 a.m.

C. Kinsey (5-4, 3.30) vs. TBA

.400 is His M-O

Junior outfielder Mikela Olsen has continued his torrid pace for the Hornet offense.

The switch hitter not only leads the squad with a .420 batting average, but his numbers go up with runners on base. The Oakhurst, Calif., native currently leads the team with a .455 average with runners on base and a .448 average with runners in scoring position.

The Santa Ana JC transfer leads all Hornets with 66 hits, 17 doubles, 37 runs, 48 RBI, a .752 slugging percentage and 118 total bases.

Olsen, who is currently ranked 25th in the nation for batting average, will look to become the first Hornet to hit above the .400 plateau since Dan Ferreira (1990).

Schmidt Setting New Record

Junior Jesse Schmidt is leaving a prominent mark in the Hornet record book as the Palomar JC transfer enters this week''s play with a program-record 24-game hitting streak.

Schmidt, a native of San Diego, surpassed Casey Simpson (22) for the program record. Simpson accomplished the feat during the 1992 season.

Since his streak began on March 11, Schmidt has batted 39-for-88 (.443) with 26 runs, 22 RBI, five doubles, nine home runs, 16 walks, 10 stolen bases and only 10 strikeouts. The junior also raised his batting average from .333 to .397 during that span.

Schmidt also excels as a right fielder with a team-leading seven outfield assists.