Getting a good pitching performance out of senior Mike Miranda on Sunday, Sac State baseball took the final game of a three game set at Cal State Northridge.

With the 4-2 win, the Hornets improved to 16-16 overall, and are looking forward to Big West action starting up this weekend at Long Beach State, with a three game series with the 49ers.

“We have not played up to our potential the last six games and our guys basically didn’t hit on Friday and Saturday,” head coach John Smith said. “But instead of ranting and raving, we talked positively and about the fact that conference is coming up this week. And Sunday was one of the better games we’ve played the entire season.”

On Sunday, Miranda worked eight innings and into the last inning, allowing 10 base runners and two earned runs. He improved his record to 5-2 on the year, and Michael Penbera earned his eighth save of the season for Sac State.

“This was one of his most important outings of the year,” said Smith of the right-hander. “It meant a lot for the guy on the bump to be dialed in and he was dialed in.”

Catcher Dave Lusk led the Hornets with three hits, including his fourth home run of the season, which came in the second inning. Senior Carlos Morales and first baseman Tim Maghan also homered for Sac State. Morales leads the team with a .341 batting average.”Winning this game was one of the most important wins of the year,” Smith said. “The team took the right attitude and approach to it. Every team goes in slumps and we came out of it.”On Saturday, the Hornets were beaten 7-1 as the Matadors touched up Benny Gonzalez for four runs and six hits in three innings. The Matadors? Bill Murphy threw seven innings, allowing nine runners and no earned runs for his sixth victory in eight decisions.

On Friday, Jeff Groeger pitched seven innings and gave up six runs and 12 hits, while striking out seven, but it was not good enough as the Matadors pulled out a 6-3 victory.Jeremy Hanson got three hits in four at bats for the Matadors and also knocked in two runs in the win.

After the Hornets scored twice in the first inning, on run-scoring hits by Joe Evans and Lusk, the Matadors put up a four spot in the second inning and that was enough for the victory. Morales homered in the loss for Sac State.

Sac State travels to Long Beach State this Friday through Sunday to open Big West Conference play.