The Sacramento State baseball team got back on the winning track after losing their last five games in a row as they started a four-game series at home against North Dakota State.

The Hornets improved to 3-6 on the season with 3-0 victory over the Bison.

In his first career start at Sac State, junior pitcher Matt Campbell tossed a complete game shutout; he struck out eight, allowed five hits and didn’t walk a single batter.

“It was awesome being out there,” Campbell said. “I was pretty pumped up for the first few innings. I came into today’s start feeling good and I knew that I would pitch like that today.”

The Hornets didn’t waste any time in getting some run support for Campbell, making his first Sac State start, as they got off to one-run lead in the bottom of the first.

Shortstop Everet Rincon walked and stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a Pedro Santiago groundout. The Hornets scored without getting a hit in the inning.

After allowing a hit to his first batter, Campbell settled in by retiring the next eight hitters.

The second Hornet run came just like the first as the Hornets scored in the bottom of the fourth. Brian Conradi led the inning off with a walk, stole second base and advanced to third base on a throwing error by the catcher. Conradi would score on a Brett Flowers ground out.

In the top of the fifth inning, Campbell was able to keep his shutout going as he was able get out of a jam with runners on second and third.

In the bottom of the inning Sac State put the third run on the board as again a groundout scored the run. Jim Strombach scored the run after he led the inning off with a double to centerfield. The Hornets could’ve scored more in the inning after having the bases loaded with only one out.

Head coach John Smith was excited about getting the first win since the opening series of the season but a little disappointed in the hitting from his team.

“We didn’t hit as well as we would like,” Smith said. “The hitting needs to improve, especially our timely hitting. We left way too many runners out there today. Good thing Matt was pitching great out there for us.”

The Hornets only had five hits and left eight runners on base.

From fifth inning on Campbell was nearly un-hittable. He retired 12 of the last 13 batters to make sure he would get a complete game shutout in his first start with the Hornets after two relief appearances earlier in the season.

“Campbell had great control out there today,” Smith said. “The defense was great behind him today too. Today we didn’t give them any free runs by the way of walks and in return, we got all three of our runs today that way.”

The Hornets continue the series against North Dakota State with a 2 p.m. game Friday afternoon at Hornet Field.