It took Sacramento State sophomore first baseman Rhys Hoskins two weeks to hit his first home run of the 2013 season, but it is one he will never forget.

In the fifth inning of the Hornets’ 10-3 win against Utah Valley University, Hoskins launched a towering home run over the left field wall that landed on top of Parking Structure 1 to extend Sac State’s lead.

“Honestly, I was just trying to hit a line drive up the middle, because I have been struggling a little bit,” Hoskins said. “I was trying to get my confidence going.”

Coming into Sunday’s game, Hoskins was batting a mere .237 average with no home runs and five RBIs after finishing last year with a .353 batting average, 10 home runs and 53 RBIs. He said he wished it hasn’t been on his mind, but it was.

“Obviously I was thinking about it. I think that is why I have been struggling, but it’s only one,” Hoskins said. “Hopefully there will be more, but if not I’m fine with getting one for my team.”

The Hornets’ 10 runs set a new season record for runs scored and it was with a completely new batting order. Sac State head coach Reggie Christiansen made some changes just before first pitch that moved outfielders Justin Higley and David Del Grande to the leadoff and second spots in the batting order, while freshman Nathan Lukes was sent down to the seventh spot. 

“I wish I had a reason (to make these changes),” Christiansen said. “I just thought last night to change it up, more than anything else. I liked the lineup we put out there today.”

The top four players in Sac State’s batting order started the game getting on base with a pair of doubles by Higley and Del Grande. After Hoskins and junior third baseman Will Soto reached base on a hit by pitch and walk respectively, Chris Lewis singled to right field to drive in a pair of runs.

Following two runs scored by Utah Valley in the top of the second inning, the Hornets responded with Hoskins’ home run in the fifth inning and two more runs on RBIs by Del Grande and Soto.

Soto finished the game 1-3 but drove in two RBIs on two walks.

“Patience is huge,” Soto said. “It makes pitchers pitch deeper into games and it allows us the pitches we want to hit.”

The Hornets received three more runs in the eighth inning on three straight doubles by Del Grande, Hoskins and Soto to extend their lead to seven runs.

Sac State is in the midst of playing 11 out of its last 12 games at home, but will hop on I-80 to head over to UC Davis’ Dobbins Baseball Complex for a mid-week game on Tuesday.

“We just need to have a good practice tomorrow and have a good game against Davis on Tuesday,” Hoskins said. “I think we are headed in the right direction.”

First pitch will be at 2:30 p.m.

Ryan can be reached on Twitter at @rskuhn