Brennan Leitao pitched eight innings of scoreless ball, and Chris Lewis’ two-run, fourth-inning single lifted the Sacramento State Hornets to a 2-0 victory today over the hosting Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs to take game two of the four-game series.

Leitao, the Hornets’ ace and the school’s all-time wins leader, picked up his first win of the season. The hard-luck senior entered this contest 0-1 despite a 2.25 ERA in his first four starts. His final stat line tonight included seven strikeouts and no walks, and he did not allow a runner to pass second base.

Chad Perry pitched the ninth inning to earn the save for Sac State (9-7). The loss dropped the Mustangs to 5-10.

This game was similar to Leitao’s previous starts, as it was a low-scoring pitching duel between aces. This time it was the Mustangs’ right-hander Casey Bloomquist on the losing end. The junior went 7 2/3 innings, striking out nine with two walks and scattering five hits, yet took the loss despite not allowing any earned runs. He was victimized by a pair of infield errors in the fourth.

“I thought we responded extremely well after last night,” Leitao said. “Our defense was huge. Kyle Moses, Lewis and Brandon Hunley picked me up and made my night easier.”

After a fielding error followed by a throwing error to begin the fourth inning, Nathan Lukes’ walk loaded the bases. Lewis’ single to right-center scored the deciding runs for the visitors.

Sac State outhit the hosts five to three, with the junior Lukes continuing his blistering start to the season, going 2-for-3 to raise his average to .458.

The pitching duel saw the two pitching staffs combine for 20 strikeouts while allowing eight hits. Both team’s offenses left 11 runners on base.

Sac State did not commit an error and has only committed one error in the team’s last three contests.

“I am really proud how our younger guys bounced back today,” Leitao said. “The next two games will be tough, but our pitching will give us an opportunity to win both games.”

Game three is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday and will feature a pair of southpaws on the mound. Sac State junior Sam Long (3-0, 2.55 ERA) will face Cal Poly freshman Kyle Smith (1-2, 5.28 ERA).