Sacramento State salvaged what could have been a disappointing spring break by splitting four against Utah Valley State over the weekend, pushing its record to 11-15.

The Hornets started the week slowly, losing 4-2 Wednesday at home to the University of San Francisco.

First baseman Brian Blauser smashed his fifth home run of the season, one of three hits he had in the game.

Friday, the Hornets were shut out 8-0 by Utah Valley’s flame-throwing right-hander Kam Mickolio. Sac State managed just five hits off of Mickolio, who pitched nine full innings without allowing a run. The Hornets failed to reach base until the fourth inning, when second baseman Pat Keiper led off with a double.

Hornet starter Matt Campbell (2-4) was tagged with the loss after he gave up seven runs and 13 hits in six innings of work. The game was punctuated by poor fielding, as two Hornet errors led directly to three Utah Valley runs.

The Hornets rebounded during the weekend, though, taking two of the last three from the Wolverines, starting with a 7-1 victory in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader.

Sac State starting pitcher Mick Joyce pitched his third complete game in a row, holding the Wolverines to just one run.

The win gave Joyce a 5-0 record on the season, and his ERA stands at a minuscule 1.62.

“He really worked hard to get to this point,” coach John Smith said. “He came back this year with improved command. He’s putting pitches where he wants them.”

Keiper had three hits and an RBI, while center fielder Brian Conradi went 2-4 with three RBIs.

The Hornets dropped the nightcap 6-5 despite staging a comeback that fell just short. Down 6-1 in the ninth inning, Sac State came to life with a run in the eighth and three more in the ninth before being closed down with the tying run on base.

Despite the loss, the Hornets rode the momentum of Saturday’s near-comeback to a 7-1 win Sunday. Blauser and catcher Brett Tanigawa both blasted home runs in support of Hornet starter Travis Kane, who went seven innings to pick up his second win of the season.

Blauser’s home run was his sixth of the year, while Tanigawa’s round-tripper was the first of his collegiate career. Right-fielder Jim Strombach also added two hits and two RBIs to help lead a 12-hit Hornet attack.

Paul Rice can be reached at [email protected]