With expectations set incredibly high for the Hornets, the team has stayed true to their work ethic with their sights set on returning to the NCCA Division I Baseball Tournament.

Since Reggie Christiansen has become the coach of Sacramento State, a culture of winning is beginning to form among the players, largely due to their first appearance in the tournament’s regional round in 2014.

“The success that we have had has carried over into this year,” Christiansen said. “They believe they are going to win where I think a few years ago it was more of a hope. Winning is contagious.”

Last year’s taste of the regional round has the Hornets working and playing harder than ever, which has led to their self-proclaimed nickname “grinders.”

“I think that’s probably the best word to describe this squad,” said senior pitcher Brennan Leitao, who was the first to use the term to describe the relentless Hornets. “All nine guys are going to sell out.”

The work ethic of the Hornets grew with each passing day of the offseason as they started a new workout routine during their break at The Academy Training and Performance Center in Downtown Sacramento, which has paid huge dividends for Sac State’s early season.

“The way we prepared in the offseason was a lot different,” Leitao said. “We have done the best job that we have done since I’ve been here.”

In two starts, Leitao (0-0) has recorded a 2.25 ERA with seven strikeouts and surrendered only three earned runs. He has yet to earn a decision in his two games.

Sac State is favored to repeat as Western Athletic Conference champions, according to the WAC preseason coaches’ poll. The Hornets own a preconference record of 6-2.

With the squad’s die-hard mentality and returning experience, the Hornets have a legitimate shot of taking the school further than they have ever gone before.

“Just playing in the atmospheres that we have played in helps us,” said senior pitcher Ty Nichols. “When we have to go to the regionals or super regionals where it’s going to be an electric atmosphere, it’s going to be easier on us and we know we can have success.”

The veteran players with their consistent work ethic have created specific expectations on how the game should be played.

Scotty Burcham, a preseason All-WAC selection who has six RBIs and nine runs scored through eight games played, felt it was crucial to communicate the feeling of success.

“I told them how fun it was last year, how fun it is to win,” Burcham said. “I wanted to get that in their minds.”

The knowledge passed down from returning players has been invaluable and has allowed the freshmen, who played high school baseball last year, to be able to have early success at the college level this year.

“The freshmen that started weren’t fazed by the stage,” Leitao said. “It looked like a high school ball game for them.”

In the last game of the opening series against the University of Utah, the four freshmen starters for the Hornets were not daunted by the stage, showing the veteran mentality being passed on throughout the club.

“We had four freshmen starters and they did great,” said right fielder Nathan Lukes. “I would like to see them keep doing what they are doing.”

In particular, freshman second baseman Dan Deely showed his early maturation with a walk-off hit for the win in the last game of the series. The freshman has collected seven hits and four RBIs this season.

Deely didn’t take long to buy into the Hornets’ motto of grinders and is ready to continue his season with the do-or-die attitude.

“We might not have the most pop or be the fastest team,” Deely said. “We are going to grind out every at-bat and just give it everything. I think we play a little bit harder than most teams.”

The increasingly focused Hornets have set their sights high, but they are taking every day in stride to ensure there are no slip ups along the way to their ultimate goal.

“We expect to go to another regional and hopefully a super regional but we are not going to overlook the Western Athletic Conference,” Leitao said. “We are going to take it one game at a time and I think taking it one game at a time is going to set us up nicely.”

Finding a clear cut leader for a team experiencing this level of success is usually an easy task, but for the Hornets, not having an obvious leader is something that drives everyone to lead by example.

“I don’t think one guy sets the tone for this team,” Burcham said. “On the mound we have a great starting rotation. When the pitchers go out there and throw strikes, it sets the tone for the whole game.”

The leadership role has become a collective effort for the club, especially from the guys who tasted last year’s success.

“We’re not show ponies,” Nichols said. “We go out there and do our work.”

Anything less than reaching regionals in the tournament would be considered a disappointment as the Hornets continue their pursuit back to the NCAA Division I tournament.