Winning two of three at San Diego last weekend, the Hornets? baseball team is back on track as they head into today?s game versus San Francisco at 2 p.m. at Hornet Field.

On Friday, the Hornets (4-5) suffered a 15-2 drubbing at the hands of the Torreros (3-4), but they came back and used a mix of hitting and pitching to win Saturday and Sunday?s games.

“These guys have so much character,” head coach John Smith said of his team bouncing back. “We did not play horrible (on Friday). There was one inning that was ugly, but other than that, it was pretty good.”

In Friday?s loss, San Diego did indeed catch the Hornets in an ugly inning, as they scored eight times in the third inning. The Torreros took advantage of the Hornets? five errors in the game, and scored seven earned runs off Sac State right hander Mike Miranda. Adding all that up, San Diego had no problem getting the victory.

The next day, junior Jeffery Groeger made sure that Sac State would come away with a victory of its own. Improving his record to 1-1, he threw a complete game, allowing only five hits and one walk in Sac State?s 7-0 win.

“Groeger was the key to our success on Saturday, he pitched so well,” Smith said. “He kept them (San Diego) down to the point where we were in command. It enabled us to relax.”

Assistant coach Rusty McLain was also impressed by Groeger?s outing.”He was absolutely dominant,” McLain said. “He retired the leadoff hitter in eight of the nine innings. Our guys bounced back (from Friday) with lots of confidence and poise.”

Third baseman Carlos Morales had three hits in five at bats while driving in three runs. Right fielder Mario Celillo also went three for five, raising his batting average to .429.

Smith was also pleased with his team?s ability to put the 15-2 loss behind them.

“They came back the next day, with more desire,” Smith said. “They were a little embarrassed.”

The Hornets pulled out another victory on Sunday as they broke a 5-5 tie, and scored two runs in the seventh inning. Senior Sac State center fielder, Aurelio Jackson, led off the seventh with a single, John Frietas walked and Morales was hit by a pitch. Then senior Daryl Grant doubled home Jackson and Frietas, to give the Hornets a 7-5 lead. This ended up being the final score.

Grant had three hits in his five at bats, along with those two runs batted in. Grant leads all Hornet regulars with a batting average of .455, to go along with a team high seven runs batted in.

Catcher Joe Evans had a big day as well, with three hits and two runs batted in. He also helped out in Saturday?s win with a home run. Smith called Evans one of the many hitting stars.

“One day it was Morales, AJ (Jackson) and Celillo, and the next day it was Evans, Grant, AJ and Morales,” Smith said of his team?s bevy of good hitting performances. “Corey Williams also came out of his little slump. This is what we?ve been looking for: good pitching and timely hits.”

Jackson had two hits in the win, moving within one hit of the Sac State career hit record, held by Brandon Marshall. He had five hits in the series and is currently batting .405 with nine stolen bases for the Hornets.

“AJ had a great series,” McLain said of Jackson. “If it wasn?t for baseball?s luck, he would have tied the record.”

Sac State will host the University of San Francisco today at 2 p.m. at Hornet Field.