Sacramento State can discard any second thoughts it may have had about hiring Reggie Christiansen to take over the baseball program

Last season, Christiansen coached his team to its first regular conference championship since the school moved to Division I in 1992.

Former head coach and now assistant athletics director John Smith was instrumental in the hiring of Christiansen.

“I knew Reggie was the right guy and ready to take (this program) to the next level,” Smith said. “He’s knowledgeable and is a good coach.”

Now in his third season, Christiansen and the Hornets look to defend their conference championship as the 2013 season starts Friday when Sac State travels to the University of Texas.

But the road was not easy for the Hornets. Two seasons ago, Sac State finished with a 19-31 record and was picked to finish dead last in the conference in 2012.

Despite their low expectations, the Hornets made a statement by winning four of their six games in the Western Athletic Conference series.

“We had some guys with some experience that could play every day we got going at the right time,” Christiansen said. “We got hot at the end of the year.”

Sac State made it all the way to the championship game of the WAC Tournament, only to lose to Fresno State in extra innings 4-3. The loss kept them from a NCAA Regional berth.

“I think about that every day,” Christiansen said. “We need to be better so when the opportunity comes again, we are prepared.”

This season, the Hornets will bring back the majority of last season’s roster including WAC Player of the Year senior second baseman Andrew Ayers and WAC Freshman of the Year Rhys Hoskins.

Ayers was the first player in the program’s history to be awarded conference MVP for batting .417 and driving in 18 RBIs in 18 conference games.

“I just play for my team,” Ayers said. “If I can’t do it, Rhys will do it and then (it’s) onto the next guy.”

Hoskins also played well during the conference season, batting .343 with 10 home runs, 53 RBIs and 44 runs scored.

This year, his main goal is to make it past the conference tournament.

“Whatever the numbers may be, that’s what they’ll be, but I want to make it to a regional,” Hoskins said. “I just want to help my team out as much as I can.”

Hoskins will move to first base this season to take over the position because Clay Cederquist was forced out of play due to Tommy John’s surgery. Although Hoskins did not spend any time at first base last season, he is quite familiar with the role from playing at Jesuit High School.

Helping Ayers and Hoskins in the lineup will be outfielders Justin Higley, Kyle Moses and David Del Grande along with third baseman Will Soto.

Christiansen said everyone will need to step up after losing their top catcher Derrick Chung who graduated and was drafted in the 31st round by the Toronto Blue Jays.

“I think guys like Will Soto and David Del Grande are much improved from a year ago,” Christiansen said. “I think the biggest impact this fall was Chris Lewis. He was the best ball-hitting player we had as a redshirt freshman and he is going to be a big part of this lineup.”

Although Lewis did not play last season, Christiansen said he will be the opening day designated hitter. As a senior at Sierra High School in Newark, Calif., he hit .301 with 9 RBIs.

This season, the Hornets not only bring back the majority of the batting order, but the entire starting pitching staff as well.

Junior pitcher Dallas Chadwick ended the season strong with a 3-1 record and finished with a 3.06 ERA in 35.1 innings during the conference schedule. Along with Chadwick, Sac State features pitchers Brennan Leitao and Tanner Mendonca to round out the weekend rotation.

“Our pitching is the strength of this team,” Christiansen said. “Defensively we are going to be very solid again, offensively we are good, but this year the pitching is the difference of this club. Last year we weren’t deep enough, but now we are much further along.”

Mendonca struggled with some consistency, finishing with 55 strikeouts and 40 walks, but after spending time in Alaska for a summer league, he said he feels more mature coming into this season.

“I worked on simplifying my delivery and my preparation in between each start,” Mendonca said. “I learned a lot about myself as a pitcher.”

In the bullpen, the Hornets will have to find a new closer because senior R.J. Davis graduated. Christiansen said he is still looking at options, but junior Hunter Greenwood, Nevada transfer Mason Magleby or even Chadwick could take over closing duties.

With all the experience the Hornets have thus far, new faces also join the Opening Day roster.

Although senior catchers Chung and Brett Hottman graduated, the Hornets now turn to a trio that will handle the pitching staff. Redshirt freshman Dane Fujinaka looks to get the majority time behind the plate, along with junior college transfers Blake Hugaert and Shawn Wheeler.

In the bullpen, Sac State will use freshman Sutter McLoughlin and Justin Dillon for some middle relief.

The Hornets start their season on Friday at 4:30 p.m. when they travel to No. 26 Texas, but the players said they do not feel intimidated starting the season playing a nationally ranked team.

“It doesn’t matter who we play – it’s how we play,” Hoskins said. “It’s just another baseball game.”

Follow Ryan on Twitter at @rskuhn