SAN JOSE, Calif. - First half goals by senior Isaac Flores and redshirt freshman Brad Bumgarner gave Sacramento State an early 2-0 lead, but San José State junior forward Rory Knibbs recorded a hat trick over an eight minute stretch later in the first half to lead the Spartans to a 4-2 win.

Sacramento State (0-3-0) returns for its home opener at 1 p.m. Sunday vs. CSU Bakersfield on Future Hornet Kids Club day. Fans will receive free team photo posters and the Hornets will sign autographs after the game.

After San José State (1-1-0) hit the post on a header less than a minute into the game the Hornets were able to capitalize on their first shot of the contest in the 10th minute. Junior Ivan Ramirez found Flores on a run down the left side of the Spartan box, and the senior cut around a defender and fired to the top shelf to give the Hornets the lead.

Less than six minutes later, sophomore Fernando Ochoa sent a deep ball from the Hornet half of the field that was corralled by Bumgarner. San José State goalkeeper Emmanuel Espinoza and a defender tried to stop Bumgarner at the top left of the SJSU box but he chipped the ball over the keeper into the vacant net for his first collegiate goal.

In the 26th minute, Knibbs headed home a rebound to make the score 2-1. Six minutes later, he similarly put in a rebound from inside the goalmouth to bring the Spartans even. Less than two minutes after that, San José State was awarded a penalty kick and Knibbs put it in to record a natural hat trick in less eight minutes time.

Early in the second half the Spartans added to their lead as freshman Zach Penner fired through traffic from the top of the box for the fourth San José State goal in the 53rd minute. The Hornets had offensive pressure throughout the second half but did not score again.

Sacramento State junior goalkeeper Philip Bru made six saves in the contest, including several strong stops in the second half to keep the deficit at two. Espinoza made four saves for the win, stopping three Hornet shots on goal in the second half.

San Jose State had a 15-11 overall shot advantage and was 10-6 in shots on goal. There were just four corner kicks in the game, with the Spartans taking three in the first half and the Hornets one in the second half. A total of seven cards were issued in the game.