Freshman Justin Deme picked up his first win in his first collegiate start to lead the Hornets to a 7-4 victory over the visiting Saint Mary’s Gaels on Sunday afternoon. It marked the second consecutive series win for the Hornets who improved to 7-4.

Deme kept the Gaels’ bats quiet for six innings, allowing three runs on three hits, while striking out three.

Second baseman Jack Arroyo and third baseman John Acha had two hits each for the Hornets, both extending their hit streaks to 11 games.

The Hornets dropped their only game of the series with a 3-2 loss at Saint Mary’s on Saturday.

A two-run fifth inning by the Gaels gave them a 3-1 lead.

With the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, a wild pitch by Saint Mary’s reliever Justin Sloan allowed Travis Kassebaum to score from third, cutting the lead to 3-2.

But the Hornets failed to capitalize further, as Sloan retired the next two batters to end the game.

The series got off to a cold and damp start at Hornet Field on Friday afternoon. The bats were hot though, as a nine-run explosion by the Hornets in the third inning catapulted them to a 13-5 win.

Outfielder Ronnie Machado, Jr. led the well-balanced Hornet attack with three hits and four RBIs in the game, while Arroyo added three singles.

“After we lost at Davis last week we wanted to come out with a lot of energy today. You could tell their pitcher was wearing down,” Hornet left-fielder Andy Hnilo said.

Starting pitcher Ethan Katz improved his record to 2-0 with the win. Benefiting from his teammates’ offensive onslaught, Katz was able to settle down after giving up three runs in the first three innings.

“That was his second quality start,” assistant coach Rusty McLain said of Katz, who gave up three runs and struck out four in six innings. “We’re going to need him.”

Manager John Smith was not with the team for this series due to his rehabilitation from successful back surgery on Feb. 9.