SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - The California State University San Bernardino baseball team dropped a pair of CCAA contests against the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos Saturday afternoon at Fiscalini Field.
With the defeats, the Coyotes fall to 4-10 and 0-3 in CCAA play.
Game 1: Cal Poly Pomona 14, CSUSB 6
Cal Poly Pomona wasted no time, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead.
CSUSB responded with two runs in the bottom of the second. Senior Garret Barto (Pittsburgh, Pa.) hit a solo home run to center field, while Greg Luna (Moreno Valley, Calif.) hit a single and was driven in by senior Benji Solano (Chula Vista, Calif.) to tie it 2-2.
The tie was short-lived, however, with the Broncos retaking the lead off a solo blast in the top of the third.
Junior Ivan Rodriguez (San Bernardino, Calif.) started on the mound for the Coyotes, tossing four innings, allowing three runs on four hits with six strikeouts.
The fifth and sixth innings were breakout innings for the Broncos, scoring six and four runs respectively, to stretch their lead to 13-2.
The Yotes got back on the board with a home run in the bottom of the sixth by sophomore Noah Betanco (San Diego, Calif.), cutting the deficit to 13-3.
CSUSB continued to tack on runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Senior Patrick Fregoso (Eastvale, Calif.) hit an RBI single, which was followed by a two-RBI double from sophomore Ramone Valenzuela (Hemet, Calif.), making it 13-6.
Cal Poly Pomona tacked on one more run in the top of the ninth with a solo shot.
Senior Josh VerKuilen (Glendora, Calif.) came in relief and threw four innings, allowing just one run while striking out a pair.
CSUSB scattered 10 hits in the defeat, leaving nine mne on base. Betanco and Solano led the way with a pair of hits apiece.
Game 2: Cal Poly Pomona 8, CSUSB 6
The Broncos started off even stronger in the top of the first of the second game, scoring four runs on six hits.
CSUSB responded in the bottom of the first. Junior Juni Rodriguez (Hemet, Calif.) drove in two runs off a single, cutting Cal Poly Pomona. Michael Gonsalez (Los Angeles, Calif.) walked with the bases loaded, cutting the Broncos' lead to 4-3.
The Broncos responded with a pair in the top of the second off a two-run homer to hold a 6-3 lead.
CSUSB got a spark on defense in the top of the fifth when Jeremy Giesegh (Upland, Calif.) threw out a Cal Poly Pomona runner attempting to stretch a single into a double.
Freshman Tyson Pettingill (Overton, Nev.) hit his fourth homer of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning, and Gonsalez notched an RBI single to draw CSUSB to within one, but the Coyotes left the bases loaded to end the threat.
In the sixth, junior Eddie Alfaro (Moreno Valley, Calif.) led off the inning with a double down the right field line, and after advancing to third off a wild pitch, scored when Rodriguez hit a single through the left side, tying the game 6-6.
The Yotes retired the first two batters in the top of the seventh, but Cal Poly Pomona hit a single and another two-run shot again to take the lead for good. CSUSB went down in order to seal the defeat.
Despite picking up the loss, redshirt junior pitcher Kailer Saunders (Boise, Idaho) did not allow a walk and struck out seven over the course of the complete game.
Alfaro, Pettingill, Rodriguez, and Gonsalez all had two hits in the loss. The rest of the team combined for just two hits.
Cal Poly Pomona and CSUSB conclude will their series on Sunday at Fiscalini Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
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