Box Score
SAN BERNARDINO — Cal State San Bernardino wrapped up its California Collegiate Athletic Association with a 13-8 win over Cal State East Bay to secure at least third place in the conference.
It is the highest CCAA placing since the Coyotes won the conference title in 2002. CSUSB moved to 28-14 on the year and finishes the CCAA season at 27-13 and can finish in second place if Cal State Stanislaus can take two from Cal State Dominguez Hills next week.
It was the top half of lineup that did the brunt of the work for the Coyotes as the 1-6 hitters went a combined 9-for-24 with nine RBIs and nine runs scored. Each batter in that stretch had at least one hit and drove in at least one run.
Ethan Chapman led the way for the Coyotes, going 3-for-6 with three RBIs and three runs scored and hit his 13th home run of the year which puts him just two back from tying the school record. James Kono and Brent Planck each went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Leland Sisco had a 2-for-4 day at the plate with an RBI and a home run.
The Coyotes didn't waste anytime getting on the board, scoring seven runs in the bottom of first. CSUSB scored the first on a Pioneer error before Ryan Hulbert and Sisco hit back-to-back doubles to put the Coyotes up 4-0. A Planck single and a Chapman double up the middle drove in the final three runs of the inning as CSUSB jumped out to a 7-0 lead.
The Pioneers didn't go away quietly, scoring three in the second and one in the fourth to make it 7-4 before tying it at 7-7 with three runs in the fifth. CSUEB took its first lead of the game in the sixth with a run, but the lead was short lived as the Coyotes put two on the board in the bottom half with an Erik Ornelas groundout and a Bryant Veiga single to left field.
The Coyotes put it away in the seventh with four more runs with all of them coming off home runs. Chapman and Kono each hit solo home runs while Cody Madison hit a two-run home run.
Lucas Sanford (5-0) picked up the win after throwing four innings of relief in which he allowed one run on three hits.
CSUSB ends its season Friday and Saturday with single games against Grand Canyon (Ariz.) at 2 p.m. each day.
