Sacramento State hosted visiting University of Hawaii in a baseball slugfest Friday afternoon as the Hornets came from behind to defeat the Rainbow Warriors on Friday 11-6 in their 2010 Western Athletic Conference opener.

All eyes were on Hawaii starting pitcher Josh Slaats as 20 different radar guns had their laser beams trained on the Major League Baseball prospect.

The scouts, as well as fans, saw Hornet starting pitcher Robert Butler outshine his opponent as he held Hawaii scoreless for four straight innings. However, the Rainbow Warriors erupted for four runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Butler lasted one batter into the sixth inning as head coach John Smith went to the bullpen after he gave up home run to Christian Johnson. The bullpen would hold strong for the Hornets, giving up one run in four innings.

Hornet bats scored big in the sixth and seventh innings, driving in four runs each time at bat, making the score to 11-5. The game would end 11-6 as the Hornets won their first conference game of season.

Hornet reliever Mike Guglielmo picked up the win, improving his record to 1-2. The loss went to Rainbow Warrior reliever Alex Capaul, now 5-2 on the season.

Hornet hitters Andrew Ayers and Blake Miller powered Sac State’s offense. Each player went 3-4 with a combined seven RBI and a home run by Ayers, his first of the season. Miller said he attributed is good day at the plate to being selective at the plate.

“I was just seeing good pitches to hit. Been working on pitch selection all year,” Miller said. “Just trying to lay off bad pitches and see good pitches up in the zone and when I see them drive them.”

Ayers said seeing the No. 1 Hawaii pitcher and best pitcher in conference was just like seeing the other pitchers he faced in preseason play.

“We have seen other guys just like him, so we just had to be aggressive with his fastball,” Ayers said. “And go after the fastball early in the counts because that will be your best chance to get a hit.”

Smith said coming into conference play, the team was well prepared for the series against Hawaii.

“The schedule we have gone through this year, has prepared us for this weekend. We have played the 22nd-toughest schedule in the country from preseason and knowing that we had to be ready, prepared and the mindset to open up the season in the WAC,” Smith said. “It is a huge win, always important to win the Friday game of a four game series. But to win the opener win the opener of the WAC Conference has even more magnitude.”

Sac State’s record is 12-17-1 overall and 1-0 in WAC play. Hawaii fell to 17-16 overall and 2-3 in the WAC.

The Hornets return to action Saturday in a doubleheader against this same Hawaii team. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Hornet Field.

Matt Harrington can be reached at [email protected]