RIVERSIDE—California Baptist opened their weekend against Sacramento State with a back-and-forth Friday night, securing the win 9-7 with two home runs from Josh Paino and twelve strikeouts from Liam Rocha. The Lancers improve to 14-11 in the  WAC and 27-23 overall before they turn to the second game of the crucial series.

Sacramento State started hot from the beginning of the game and quickly took up a four-run lead by the second inning. Paino responded with his first home run of the night, bringing in two runs to cut the Lancer's deficit to two. Dustin Garcia doubled to right center field immediately after and brought in another pair of runs just before Garret Ostrander singled for the go-ahead run for a 5-4 ball game heading to the third. Ostrander improves to a 21-game hitting streak.
Rocha helped secure the next four scoreless innings, tallying a season-high 12 strikeouts during his time on the mound. The Hornets restarted the scoring in the top of the seventh with a home run and an RBI single, taking the lead. Michael Carpentier tied it again with an RBI single, but Paino answered the call and launched a three-run shot for the lead in the bottom of the seventh. SAC tried to gain momentum in the eighth with a solo homer, but it wasn't enough for a late comeback.
Paino walks away with a season-high five RBI and two home runs off the Hornet's pitching staff. Garcia collected two RBI off his pair of hits, and Carpentier tallied a hit and an RBI to end the night.  The Lancer pitching staff combined for 16 strikeouts, with Rocha moving to 97 Ks on the year. 

California Baptist returns to Totman Stadium on Saturday at 5:00 P.M. for a chance to take the series against the Hornets, just before celebrating senior day on Sunday.