The Sacramento State Hornets defeated the Cornell Big Red 6-2 Thursday afternoon at Hornet Field behind the arm of freshman pitcher Jesse Darrah. Darrah struck out a personal best 9 batters in the win, which brings the Hornets record to a record of 8-8 this season.

Cornell started the first inning quickly. Wasting no time they posted the game’s first run off of an RBI single. The Hornets were quick to respond with two runs of their own.

Senior Hunter Martinez hit a leadoff single and then stole second base before advancing to third on a fly out hit to right field. Hunter was then brought home by the following batter, Junior Tim Wheeler, when he hit an RBI of his own.

Before the end of the inning Wheeler advanced to third and then scored on a RBI single from Freshman Aaron Crouch.

“With a guy on second and third I just wanted to get him in. Not too much went through my head other than get a pitch I could hit, and he gave it to me,” Crouch said.

The next score came in the sixth inning when Cornell pitcher Jadd Schmeltzer hit a solo home run to center field.

About the pitch Darrah said, “I was behind in the count, I tried to get the fastball in there, trying to get the strike. He hit it hard, there’s nothing you can do about that.”

Once again the Hornets responded quickly. Wheeler led off the bottom of the sixth and was walked. Later he would score on what was intended to be a sacrifice bunt from Senior Blake Crosby. The bunt however was mishandled by Cornell and a wild throw to first was able to advance Crosby to second. He would then score on a wild pitch making the score 4-2.

In the seventh Sacramento opened their lead. Sophomore Brent Hottman hit a single and was then batted home on a RBI double by Wheeler.

The Hornets scored their sixth and final run in the bottom of the eighth. Sophomore Derrick Chung hit a double to center field and was then later brought home on an RBI walk.

Now that the hornets are 8-8 and once again and have an even record they hope to further improve their season above .500. Darrah commented that this Hornet team was picked to finish last in their conference and that a little hard work and an honest effort would prove their naysayers wrong and make their season a success.

Crouch reflected the same belief by stating, “When we come out with more intensity there’s nothing we can’t handle. We feel when we play, we play the right way. We have small numbers and less experience but we gel together nicely.”

Andrew McFadden can be reached at [email protected]