Sacramento State baseball is winning games this season courtesy of the youth movement that head coach Reggie Christiansen is putting out on the field.

Of the 32 players on the Hornets’ roster, 19 are freshmen and sophomores. The underclassmen is led by sophomores, closer Sutter McLoughlin and outfielder Chris Lewis, and freshman starting pitcher Sam Long.

These Hornets are thriving on the big stage and it is going to help them down the line come Big Sky Conference tournament time. Sac State has already gone on the road and won against Fresno State and Texas A&M, two places that are difficult to play at.

In three games at Texas A&M, the combined attendance total was 13,650. In four games at Sac State this season, there has been a total attendance of 1,582. It was a crowd the team was not used to.

“By going on the road to play in that type of environment right now, it prepares the guys for down the road when we are in the NCAA tournament,” Christiansen said.

If Sac State were to advance to the NCAA tournament, it would likely run into powerhouse teams on the West Coast like UCLA, Cal State Fullerton and Oregon State.

“You go play in a place like Eugene or Arizona State or UCLA, it’s gonna be a fun and electric environment,” Christiansen said.

The youth on this team has not shied away from the spotlight and is carrying the Hornets.

Lewis, and fellow sophomores, catcher Dane Fujinaka and right fielder Nathan Lukes, are regular starters in the lineup and have all been key Hornet players. Lukes is leading the team with a .357 average, has

11 walks and owns a .472 on base percentage.

Freshman second baseman Brandon Hunley, who is only 17 years old, had a quick start to his collegiate career. In Hunley’s first two career starts against the University of Utah, he went 5-for-8 with one RBI and one run scored.

The pitching staff is also strengthened by its young players.

Sac State has had two freshmen starting pitchers this season in Long and Jared Padarez. Long earned the win against Fresno State in his first career collegiate start throwing five innings, giving up only one earned run.

McLoughlin, a preseason All-America third team select, led the Western Athletic Conference with 17 saves in 2013. He has not cracked under the pressure this season having closed out games against Fresno State and the Friday night game against Texas A&M.

For Sac State to be successful, the underclassmen will need to perform and be leaders on this team. The future is bright with the Hornets young talent and a NCAA tournament berth is an increasingly possible outcome.

Curtis Manlapig can be reached on Twitter @CTMstatehornet