TURLOCK — The Cal State East Bay Pioneers didn't hit anything hard — but they kept making contact to force the Warriors to make plays as they did just enough to win 7-5 on Sunday for a series split.
East Bay sprayed 16 hits with only two extra-base hits, and despite leaving 13 runners on base, the Pioneers scored just enough runs to improve to 11-4 overall and 2-2 in the CCAA. The Warriors, losing at home for just the first time this season in eight games, even their CCAA mark to 2-2 and 9-5 overall.
Even though they allowed all of those hits — and committed four errors — the Warriors were in the game all afternoon before coming up short. A three-run inning by CSUEB and the two late inning insurance runs made the difference in the final score.
Michael Chavarria tripled and scored in the first inning, but the Warriors didn't pick up their second hit until the fifth inning against East Bay starter Brandon Acosta. Stan State did finally chase Acosta in the fifth inning after a Chavarria run-scoring single down the left field line that made it 5-3.
East Bay slightly won the bullpen game from that point on as three Pioneers allowed two runs on two hits in 4 2/3 innings. Cole Compton got the win in relief and Derek Oetken closed out the game for his third save.
The Pioneers tagged on insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings — just enough to stay ahead of the Warriors.
Stanislaus scored in the eighth on a grounder that plated
Nick Molina who had doubled. A
Patrick Mulry solo bomb over the manual scoreboard in right-center field in the ninth got the Warriors a little bit closer.
Stan State starter
Robbie DeVries gave up four runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings for the loss.
Cody Kruip,
Ian Chandler and
Micah Hall all got on the mound and each gave up a run, including two unearned runs.
Chavarria ended up 2-for-4 on the day and Mulry drove in two scores. Mulry's other RBI came in the first inning on a sac fly that scored Chavarria, who led off with a triple.
Cal State East Bay was led by Dakota Conners and Marcus Wise, each with three hits and drove in two runs. In the series, the Pioneers had 51 hits with 44 singles (six doubles and a triple) and batted .357.
