Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
SAN BERNARDINO — Cal State San Bernardino put itself right back in the hunt for the top of the California Collegiate Athletic Association with a 10-4, 8-5 sweep of No. 10 Chico State, Friday, at Fiscalini Field.
The Coyotes (14-6, 14-5 CCAA) got three home runs from Bryant Veiga who drove in seven runs across the doubleheader. The senior went 3-for-6 on the day with four runs scored. Two of his three home runs were three-run bombs.
Brandon Cunniff (3-0) stayed unbeaten with a seven-inning outing, in the opener, in which he allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out three. Lucas Sanford threw the final two innings, allowing just one hit to pick up his second save of the year.
After Chico took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second of the opener, the Coyotes answered with five runs in bottom half of the inning. Veiga's first home run tied it at 1-1 before Chris LeFay hit a two-run home run to put CSUSB up 3-1. Ethan Chapman then drove in the final two runs of the inning with a double. The Coyotes added two more to climb out to a 7-1 lead on two straight sacrifice flys by LeFay and Chris Planck.
The Wildcats cut the lead to 7-4 with a run in the sixth and two in the eighth, but Veiga put it away with his second home run of the game that also brought in Chapman and Eric Ornelas.
In the nightcap, Chapman and Ornelas kick started the Coyote offense with back-to-back homers to put CSUSB up 2-1 in the bottom of the first. LeFay then doubled down the left field line to score Cody Madison to give Cal State San Bernardino a 3-1 lead.
The Coyotes took a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the second on Veigas' second straight three-run home run. Chico State added two in the top of the second to make it a 6-3 game, but CSUSB answered in its next at bat with two more. Kyle Davis drove in the first run of the inning with a pinch-hit single up the middle before James Kono hit a sac fly to center to score LeFay as the Coyotes took an 8-3 lead.
Chico State tried to rally in the top of the seventh, scoring two on a two-out single by Kevin Seaver, but Andrew Schile picked up his fifth save of the year, retiring the only batter he faced.
Daniel Stenavich (2-2) nearly tossed the complete game, throwing 6.2 innings. He allowed five runs on 10 hits and struck out two.
The fourth and final game of the series is set for 11 a.m. Sunday.
