In a WAC conference meeting Friday afternoon at Hornet Field, the Sacramento State baseball team won the series opener against the Hawaii Rainbows by a score of 4-2. The win moved the Hornets’ WAC record to 2-3 (7-14 overall) while the Rainbows dropped to 1-4 inside conference play (9-16 overall).

The Hornets took a 2-0 lead into the seventh inning after scoring a run in both the fifth and sixth innings. Senior designated hitter Jeff Hannah hit a home run to right-center field in the bottom of the fifth, whixh was his first of the season. Sophomore center fielder Tim Wheeler drove in the other run when he hit into a fielder’s choice ground out with the bases loaded.

Hornet junior starting pitcher Jose Ramirez threw six and two-third innings allowing two runs on four hits to go along with five strike outs. He was knocked out of the game after giving up a two-out, two-run single to Hawaii’s sophomore first baseman Kevin Macdonald, giving way to junior pitcher Jeff Roth.

In the bottom of the eighth with runners on first and second base, junior Gabe Jacobo doubled to right-center field, scoring freshman second baseman Hunter Martinez. Senior third baseman David Flores eventually scored after Hawaii’s shortstop Nathan Young bobbled the relay throw to home plate.

“I knew (the pitcher) had a pretty good fastball and that he probably was going to try and challenge me with it. He left it up (in the strike zone) and I was able to keep my balance,” Jacobo said. “It feels good to come through for the team.”

“Obviously that was the game-turner right there,” Hornet coach John Smith said. “Gabe just did a great job of getting locked in and focusing and hitting the ball where it needed to be.”

Roth went on to pitch a scoreless two and a third innings in relief while not allowing a hit to nail down the victory for the Hornets, earning his first win of the season.

“(Ramirez) had great location, great command to keep (Hawaii) off-balanced. He did a great job and then Roth comes in and slams the door shut,” Smith said.

“We’re starting to turn the page. That’s what I told them (after the game). We turned the page and we turned the corner. Let’s don’t go backwards. Let’s keep rolling and keep this thing going in the right direction.”

The Hornets will go into tomorrow on a two-game winning streak after beating No. 17 Stanford Tuesday. They will host the Rainbows for a doubleheader starting at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow at Hornet Field.

Andrew Eggers can be reached at [email protected]