The Hornets rallied late in game one and junior Jesse Schmidt went 4-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI in game two as the Sacramento State baseball team swept Hawai’i-Hilo, 11-7, 11-4, in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Hornet Field. Sacramento State raised its record to 27-18 on the year while the Vulcans fell to 9-37. After 45 games, the Hornets have the program’s best mark since 1993 (27-18).Schmidt, a native of San Diego, combined to go 7-for-8 with two home runs (including a grand slam), four runs and eight RBI. The Palomar JC transfer, who ended his program record 24-game hitting streak on April 24, currently leads the squad with a .410 batting average, 42 runs, 14 homers, 24 walks, a .482 on base percentage and eight outfield assists.
In the first game, Sacramento State erased a 7-2 deficit by exploding for nine runs and nine hits in the seventh inning to record the come-from behind victory. Freshman Jim Strombach drove in the eventual game-winning run with a bases-clearing double to right center with two outs and the count full. Strombach and senior Tim Reimer each recorded two hits each during the inning.
Schmidt (3-for-4) and junior Chris Kinsey (3-for-4) finished with three hits to lead the Hornet offense while Strombach (2-for-4), Reimer (2-for-4), junior Cliff Hinkle (2-for-4) and sophomore Everet Rincon (2-for-3) each finished with multiple hits to also contribute for the squad. Each of the Hornet starters recorded at least one hit in the contest.
Junior Dan Smith (3-1) earned the win after allowing no runs and no hits while walking two and striking out one in 3.2 innings of relief.
Joel Zimmerman (1-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up four runs on three hits while walking one in one-tenth of an inning.
In game two, Schmidt finished 4-for-4 with two home runs, three runs and five RBI while senior Steve Correa earned the complete-game victory to lead the squad to the sweep.
Sacramento State led 5-3 after three innings before recording five runs in the bottom of the fourth. After Reimer recorded a bases-loaded RBI walk, Schmidt followed with a towering shot over the right center field fence to record the first grand slam of his Hornet career. Schmidt, who hit a solo home run in the second inning, was moved from his regular position in the batting order (five) to the three spot prior to the start of today’s games.
Rincon (2-for-3) and sophomores Bret LeVier (2-for-4) and Matt Wilson (2-for-4) finished the game with multiple hits. Reimer and Kinsey also added two RBI, respectively.
Correa (2-0) won his first career Hornet start after allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits while walking four and striking out seven in seven innings of work.
Robert Shimabuku (0-8) was tagged with the loss after giving up 10 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits while walking two and striking out one in 3.1 innings.
Sacramento State and Hawai’i-Hilo will play final game of the five-game series on Sunday, April 27, at 1 p.m.
