Playing their first two home games of the season at Hornet Field, Sac State baseball defeated San Francisco 4-3 on Friday, before falling to Saint Mary?s by the same score the next day.

In Saturday?s loss to Saint Mary?s, both teams put two runs across the plate in the first inning, something that has been a common theme for the Hornets (2-3) this year. In the Hawaii series and Friday?s game with the Dons, teams have scored in the opening inning.

“I don?t know why, I wish I had the answer,” said head coach John Smith of the early runs. “Pitchers are not quite in the right psyche yet.”

In the top of the first, Saint Mary?s John Engers ripped a two-out, two-run double into the left field corner.

But after that, Sac State?s Jeffery Groeger settled down and allowed only one run over the next six innings. Groeger, a junior, threw seven innings, giving up seven hits, and three runs.

In the last of the first inning, center fielder Aurelio Jackson and designated hitter Dave Lusk led off with singles, before senior Carlos Morales drove home Jackson with a single down the right field line. Catcher, Joe Evans, tied the game at two with a single off Gaels? pitcher Kevin Trochez.

In the last of the fifth inning, Jackson got on base on a two-out single, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. But, it all went for naught when Jackson was thrown out on a very close play at the plate. A large portion of the 236 in attendance shouted their disapproval at the umpire?s call.

“He might have got him,” Smith said of Jackson, conceding he may have been out.With Jackson?s two hits in the game, he moved within six hits of Sac State?s all-time hit leader, Brandon Marshall.

Saint Mary?s jumped ahead in the top of the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly, and plated another run in the next inning on a double play groundout, giving it a 4-2 lead.

In the last of the ninth inning, Sac State?s Mario Celillo doubled off the right field wall and came around to score on an error two batters later. But it was not enough as Trochez kept them to the one run and got the complete game victory for Saint Mary?s.

“We got another good pitching outing,” Smith said of his team?s performance. “But we didn?t have timely hits.”

The previous afternoon against San Francisco, the Hornets were also involved in a first inning that lit up the scoreboard. Both teams scored three times in the inning, as both pitchers were throwing balls everywhere but the strike zone.

But after the opening inning, Sac State?s Mike Miranda, a transfer from Cincinnati, dominated San Francisco the rest of the way. He ended up throwing the whole game, with 136 pitches, and only one hit over the last eight innings.

In the last of the fourth inning, Lusk drove in Morales with a two-out single, giving the Hornets a 4-3 lead. Lusk got two hits in his four at bats.

“I tend to get stronger as the game goes along,” Miranda said. “I have a little more patience.”

Smith was impressed by the performance of the 6-foot-4, 240-lb. right-hander.

“He had four or five early walks, got in a slot and took charge of the game,” Smith said. “We had him programmed to go six to seven innings. He has been throwing a lot even though usually we hold guys back early (in the year).”

Miranda has his eyes set on breaking Sac State?s complete game record, which is seven. “I told (Smith) before that I wanted the complete game record,” Miranda said. “This is a good win for the team, they didn?t let down after the first inning.”

The way he pitched Friday, I wouldn?t bet against him.

The Hornets host San Francisco State on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Hornet Field

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