Stellar pitching from Jake Stassi and 12 hits from a hot offense was enough for the Sacramento State Hornets to beat the visiting UC Davis Aggies 7-1 under the lights at Raley Field. 

The Hornets completed a season sweep over the Aggies by taking the two games in the annual Causeway Series.

Stassi (1-5) earned his first victory for Sac State (26-23). The senior pitched six innings of two-hit ball, allowing one earned run.

The Aggies’ Nat Hamby lasted 1 1/3 innings for the visitors from nearby Davis. The junior allowed five runs before being removed from the game in the second inning in taking the loss for UC Davis (26-20-1).

“I felt really good after the first inning,” Stassi said. “The breaking ball was a big pitch for me and I was able to command the fastball down in the zone … pitching with a lead was great, but I knew that I had to go out there still and compete.”

The Hornets won the first meeting 4-2 between the rivals on April 8 at UC Davis.

Sac State came out swinging in this one. Scotty Burcham’s one-out double in the first inning was the Hornets’ first hit of the game. He then stole third and was plated when Devin Lehman’s grounder was misplayed by UC Davis’ second basemen Tino Lipsen, tying the score at one apiece.

The hosts followed with four more runs in the bottom of the second inning. Chris Lewis singled to begin the inning and scored after Brandon Hunley doubled down the left field line. Dan Deely followed with a bunt single.

After Gunner Pollman struck out, Brandon Grubbs infield single scored Hunley. Nathan Lukes added another run for the hosts, with his RBI double down the left-field line. Burcham followed with a sac fly to put Sac State ahead 5-1.

Lukes’ fourth inning two-run home run over the right field wall put the Hornets ahead by the final tally of 7-1.

“We have done a great job of applying pressure lately offensively,” said Sac State coach Reggie Christiansen. “We are playing our best baseball right now and have our swagger.”

Designated hitter Nick Lynch had two of the three hits for the Aggies. Spencer Henderson had the other hit.

Burcham, Deely, Hunley and Lukes had two hits apiece for Sac State. Burcham picked up his 10th consecutive multi-hit game. 

“Personally it has been one of those stretches when I have been finding holes,” Burcham said. “Our team the last four games has had a great approach one through nine.”

Jeremiah Moore, Tyler Beardsley and Sutter McLoughlin each threw a scoreless inning apiece to round out the pitching for the Hornets.

Sac State resumes play this weekend with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon versus Western Athletic Conference foe Northern Colorado. The series concludes Sunday.