TURLOCK, Calif.--- Stan State's late inning rally fell short in the Warriors' 9-4 loss in the series opener of this weekend's four-game conference series with Cal State Los Angeles. Mac Cabero, Alex Solis and Kyle Rachels went a combined eight-for-15, scoring two runs and driving in a run for the Warriors.
SERIES OPENER: Cal State Los Angeles (9-10, 4-6 CCAA) took advantage of three walks in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead. They scored four runs in the fourth inning on just three hits capped by a Michael Rosales one-out run scoring single.
The Warriors cut the Golden Eagle lead to 4-1 in their half of the fifth inning. Alex Solis had a one-out single and went to second on a two-out single by Mac Cabero. Still with two outs, Jacob Baker reached on a Cal State Los Angeles error to load the bases. Solis scored on a Golden Eagle wild pitch to cut the Warrior deficit to 4-1.
The Golden Eagles came right back and increased their lead to 8-1 with a four-run sixth inning. They added an insurance run in the ninth to take a 9-1 lead. Andrew Tovar had a lead-off walk. He went to third on a two-out double by Wilem Drozddowski. Tovar scored on a Kadyn Victorian single for the Golden Eagles' final run of the game.
Stan State (14-13, 7-10 CCAA) made it interesting in its last at bat. Solis had a lead-off single up the middle. He went to second with pinch hitter Jonluke Goldman walked. They both scored when Cabero singled and the Golden Eagles' fielder misplayed the single to make it CSULA 9, Stan State 3. Pinch-hitter JD Madrigal reached on an error to which scored on to cut the Golden Eagle lead to 9-4. With one out, Kyle Rachels' single to place runners on first and second. Still with one out, Robert Valdivia reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Cal State Los Angeles' Mikell Chavez induced the final two Warrior batters to strike out swinging and fly out to center to preserve the 9-5 series opener victory for the Golden Eagles.
WARRIOR HITTERS: Stan State had nine hits on the day but stranded 18 runners. Mac Cabero led the way for the Warrior hitters going four-for-five with a run scored. Alex Solis was two-for-five with two runs scored and Kyle Rachels was two-for-five.
STAN STATE PITCHERS: Maxwell Pappas (2-3) suffered the loss in the start for the hosts. Patrick Sweeny pitched 1.1 scoreless innings of relief, giving up one hit and walking one. Bobby Garcia pitched 2.0 innings, giving up two hits and a run, walking three and striking out one.
UP NEXT: The two teams will continue the four-weekend series tomorrow at 1pm with a doubleheader at Warrior Stadium. They will conclude the series with a single nine-inning game beginning at noon.
