Although they lost two out of three games to open their season, the Hornets? initial road trip was not a total loss, because it was played in Hawaii.

After losing in extra innings on Thursday and falling victim to a late Rainbow rally on Friday, the Hornets (1-2) came up with an 11-8 win in the series closer on Saturday. Each game was attended by over 2,000 fans.

It was a 10 day journey for the Hornets and head coach John Smith.”The purpose of going for 10 days was that we got to practice over there for three to five hours a day,” head coach John Smith said. “In January the last two years, we haven?t been able to practice because of rain.”

A good portion of the trip was paid for by the players.

“Our players did a tremendous job of fundraising extra money to pay for the extra five days,” Smith said.

In the season opener for both teams, Sac State scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning, gaining a 7-5 lead, only to have Hawaii International tie it up in the bottom of the inning. Both runs came on a two-out error by Hornet third baseman Chris Kinsey. “It?s part of the game, the emotion and the excitement of the game,” Smith said of the unearned runs. “But had we scored more, it wouldn?t have mattered.”

As a matter of fact the Hornets believe that they did score another run, only to see it not count.

“We had a runner (Auerlio Jackson) that was clearly safe,” Smith said. “He scored standing up, and was called out at home in the first inning.”

In the last of the eleventh, the Rainbows scored again and took the game 8-7.Senior Sac State pitcher Mike Miranda threw five innings while allowing nine runners and four runs.

Senior catcher Dave Lusk, and junior shortstop Tito Barba had three hits apiece while center fielder Jackson had three stolen bases.

In the next game Sac State?s junior hurler Jeffery Groeger engaged in a pitcher?s duel with Hawaii?s Sean Yamashita. Groeger threw five innings, allowing three runners and one run, and Yamashita pitched five perfect innings before exiting.

“He pitched well,” Smith said of Groeger. “I?m extremely happy with the overall pitching.”

Lusk drove in junior Mario Celillo to tie the game at one in the eighth inning, only to see the Rainbows pour on four runs in the last of the eighth inning for the 5-1 win. Lusk and Celillo got four of the Hornets? five hits in the game.

In Saturday?s finale, Sac State exploded for 11 runs on 20 hits, jumping out to an 8-1 lead and holding on for the 11-8 win.

Included in the nearly four hour hit parade was a solo home run by senior first baseman Tim Maghan. Maghan got three hits in four at bats, and scored three runs for the Hornets as well. Maghan?s teammate, designated hitter Daryl Grant, hit three doubles and a single in five at bats. He also knocked in two runs.

Sac State?s Jackson, a senior, moved within nine hits of surpassing Brandon Marshall as Sac State?s career hit leader, as he collected five hits in his six at bats. He also scored twice, drove in three runs and stole two more bases.

“Every time he gets on he is a threat to steal,” Smith said of his leadoff hitter.Hornet sophomore Steve Cuckovich earned the victory, allowing nine runners and one earned run. He also recorded seven strikeouts.

Sac State will open its home season at Hornet Field on Friday as it battles San Francisco State at 2 p.m. The teams will also play at the same time on Saturday.