CHICO, Calif. - The California State University San Bernardino baseball team split their doubleheader against the #25 Chico State Wildcats in CCAA action Saturday afternoon at Nettleton Stadium.

The Coyotes dropped an 11-10 barnburner in game one, before prevailing 3-2 in game two.

With the split, the Yotes now sit at 23-14 with a 15-12 record in CCAA play.

 

Game 1 - Chico State 11, CSUSB 10

CSUSB  took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after a sacrifice fly by junior Jeremy Giesegh (Upland, Calif.). They added another run in the top of the second, extending their lead to 2-0 thanks to an RBI single by junior Benji Solano (Chula Vista, Calif.).

A two-run double from senior Pollo Flores (San Bernardino, Calif.) doubled the Coyote lead in the top of the third.

Chico State responded in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs, and added three more in the fourth to take a 5-4 lead.

The Coyotes tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the fifth when Adrian Hinojosa Jr. (Chula Vista, Calif.) delivered an RBI single, but the Wildcats quickly regained the lead, 6-5, in the bottom of the inning.

CSUSB answered in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs. After back-to-back singles by Solano and Jason Shedlock (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Wyatt Hall (Port Angeles, Wash.) drove in a run to knot the score at 6-6.

An intentional walk loaded the bases, and the Coyotes took the lead when Hinojosa was hit by a pitch. Tank Rodriguez (Fontana, Calif.) reached base on an error, and Flores singled, extending the lead to 9-6 in favor of the Coyotes. 

Chico State would score another run in the bottom of the sixth to cut CSUSB's lead to 9-7. Giesegh later added to the lead with an RBI single, making it 10-7.

In the bottom of the seventh, Chico State loaded the bases with no outs and managed to pull within 10-8 with two outs. After an error, the Wildcats tied the game.

The Coyotes came up empty in the top of the eighth, and Chico State capitalized, scoring the go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning. That run proved to be the difference, as the Wildcats held on for the win, edging CSUSB 11-10.

Solano led the Coyotes offensively with a 3-for-4 contest , scoring twice while driving in one.

Game 2 - CSUSB 3, Chico State 2

The Coyotes jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Hinojosa doubled and Daryl Ruiz (Corona, Calif.) walked to open the inning. Hinojosa later scored on a wild pitch, while Ruiz crossed the plate on a passed ball.

CSUSB added another run in the third inning, as Giesegh hit a sacrifice fly to extend the Coyote lead to 3-0.

The pitching was solid for the Coyotes, as they allowed just one hit in the second game. However, Chico State managed to draw five walks and kept the game close. The Wildcats scored a run in the bottom of the fourth, and the score would remain at 3-1 until the sixth inning.

Junior Matt Romero (Glendora, Calif.), who had one of his best starts of the season, found himself in some trouble after hitting a batter and walking another, prompting a pitching change. Tank Rodriguez, who had started both games at third base, entered in a save situation. 

The Wildcats would end up scoring a run, but the Coyotes maintained the lead entering the seventh inning. 

In the top of the seventh, CSUSB had a couple of runners reach base but was unable to capitalize, as the Wildcats turned a double play to end the inning.

Rodriguez, still on the mound, threw a one-two-three inning in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory for the Coyotes and salvage the split for the day.

Up next, the Coyotes conclude their series against Chico State with a single game tomorrow. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.

#GoYotes

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