SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Colin Hunter threw a seven-inning no-hitter in the first game and Josh Walker walked off the second game with a two-run home run to propel the Sacramento State baseball team to a pair of wins over Northern Illinois on Saturday at John Smith Field. The Hornets took the first contest, 8-0, before winning the second game, 2-0.

The two victories move the Hornets to 3-0 on the young season while NIU falls to 0-3. The series will conclude with a single game on Sunday at noon.

Hunter made his first collegiate start in the opening game of the doubleheader and dazzled from the first pitch. He faced the minimum through the first four innings while recording seven strikeouts. After getting the first out of the fifth, Aaron Harper chopped a ball up the middle that was bobbled by the Hornet defense allowing a Northern Illinois runner to reach base for the first time in the game. Hunter bounced back by getting a pair of flyouts to the end the inning.

He returned in the sixth to set the side down in order with a strikeout and pair of groundouts. The seventh inning began with a groundout to third and then another ball in that same direction which was thrown away allowing the batter to reach second base. Hunter then posted his ninth strikeout of the game and ended the contest with a ground ball to short.

The Scottsdale, Ariz., native became just the second pitcher in Sacramento State NCAA Div. I history to throw a no-hitter. The previous instance came on Feb. 24, 2017 when Justin Dillon did not allow a hit over nine innings against Northern Kentucky.

Sacramento State's offense provided Hunter with plenty of room to work with as the Hornets scored eight runs in the game on seven hits. The team struck in the first inning with a sacrifice fly from Steven Moretto and then broke the game open with a five-run third. In that frame, back-to-back walks were followed by a double to right center from Dawsen Bacho to plate both runners. A third walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases before Bacho scored on a wild pitch. The team then received sacrifice flies from Martin Vincelli-Simard and Carson Blatnick.

The Hornets made it 6-0 in the fourth inning following an RBI single to left from Cesar Valero which scored Jorge Bojorquez and posted their final run in the eighth when Valero stole second base and the throw sailed into center field allowing Bojorquez to score from third.

The trio of Bojorquez, Valero and Bacho each had two hits and accounted for six of the team's seven knocks in the game. Bojorquez added a pair of doubles while Bacho followed his 4-for-4 opening day with a 2-for-2 performance in game one of the doubleheader with a walk and a double.

Walker spoiled a strong start from the Huskies' Kyle Seebach in the second game. The senior did not allow a run and scattered just four hits through the first six innings of the game. After starting the bottom of the seventh with a strikeout and a groundout, Seebach allowed a single to Vincelli-Simard to keep the inning alive. Walker took advantage of the situation by driving the first pitch over the right field fence for his first collegiate home run in 15 games.

Northern Illinois threatened throughout the game, placing at least one runner on base in the first four innings. However, the only runner to reach third base in the game was the leadoff hitter in the first inning who was stranded. NIU was aggressive on the base baths as the team stole a pair of bases but were thrown out twice and also picked off once.

The tandem of Noah Lucchesi and Ryan Fleming combined on the mound for Sacramento State. Lucchesi allowed four hits and two walks while striking out one in four innings. Fleming tossed the final three frames where he gave up just one hit and one walk with three Ks.

Six different Sacramento State players had a hit in the game. The only other extra base hit other than the home run from Walker was a double by Moretto.