Sacramento, Calif. – The University of Hawaii at Hilo baseball team came out swinging but it was Sacramento State University that got the most effective hits in as the Vulcans fell 12-2 at Hornet Field in the first game of a three-day series.

"We had the opportunity for big innings early in the game but didn't take advantage of them," UHH baseball coach Joey Estrella said. "If we couldn't score those runs, I knew we were going to be in trouble."

The Vulcans (13-18) loaded the bases on consecutive singles by Ronel Trias, Keoni Manago and Michael Higa to start the game. After a pair of strikeouts, Peter Rodgers added the inning's fourth single for an RBI and a 1-0 lead.

The Hornets (16-18) wasted little time getting their swings in. After a hit batter and a pair of singles, a sacrifice fly tied the game in the bottom of the first. SSU would take the lead in the third on a sacrifice fly.

Shane Kessel and T.J. Brown got involved in the scoring to tie the game in the fourth with back-to-back doubles.

Joe Davis had another good start giving up just three runs on eight hits through four innings. But the fifth proved to be the hump he couldn't get over. After an error, three hits and a walk, the senior turned it over the Christian Stephenson.

"Joe wasn't his usual self," Estrella said. "When you go 1-2 on the opening batter then bean the guy, I go oh-oh.

"The weather is nice up here but I think we're still feeling the effects of travel."

Stephenson got the Hornets to ground into a double-play and an inning-ending ground out.

The Hornet's gloves came off in the sixth as they scored six runs on seven hits.

Trias, Higa and Kessel paired hits for the Vulcans.