Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
SAN BERNARDINO — Julio Torres went 3-for-6 with two RBIs, a run scored, two doubles and a home run in a 5-0, 2-6 split with Cal State East Bay.
The Coyotes (27-14, 26-13 CCAA) can lock up third place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association with a win over the Pioneers (19-28-1, 12-23 CCAA), Sunday, in the final game of the series.
Cal State San Bernardino scored a run in each of the first four innings to jump out to a 4-0 lead in the opener. Ethan Chapman hit his 12th home run of the season in the first before Ryan Hulbert made it 2-0 with his sixth home run of the year in the second. CSUSB added another in the third on a double to center field by Torres before Bryant Veiga doubled down the left field line in the fourth to put the Coyotes up 4-0.
CSUSB put another run on the board in the sixth after putting the first two batters aboard at first and third with a double and a fielder's choice, but Torres was picked off at first leaving James Kono at third. Kono, then came flying home on a missed suicide squeeze and got into a run down. CSUEB's Nick McManus overthrew home, allowing Kono to put the Coyotes up 5-0.
Brandon Cunniff (7-2) and Darren Dworak combined to toss the third shutout of the season for the Coyotes. Cunniff allowed just one hit and struck out nine in seven innings of work while Dworak allowed two hits and fanned two.
Chapman was the only Coyote with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
East Bay struck first in the nightcap, scoring one in the top of the first on a bunt single to third by Devin Grigg.
The Pioneers added to their lead with three unearned runs in the third. The first batter reached base on an error. The Coyotes retired the next two batters, but then gave up a walk, a two-run double and an RBI single to make it 4-0. CSUEB extended its lead to 6-0 with runs in the fifth and sixth.
The Coyotes tried to rally late scoring their first run in the sixth on a double down the left field line by Veiga and added another in the seventh on a solo shot to deep center by Torres.
Cal State East Bay's Aaron Hannigan though settled back down to pick up the complete-game win. He allowed just two runs on six hits in seven innings of work to move to 5-3 on the year. Daniel Stenavich took the loss to move to 3-5.
The series concludes with Senior Day Sunday at Fiscalini Field with 10 seniors being honored approximately 10 minutes before the start of the game at 11 a.m.
