SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.--- The visiting Stan State Warriors (7-7-1, 3-3 CCAA) swept this afternoon's doubleheader from the defending 2023 NCAA Division II West Regional Champions, Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes 13-11 and 6-2 the beginning of a four-game series at Fiscalini Field in San Bernardino. Stan State pounded out 27 hits and scored 19 runs while hitting four home runs to key its doubleheader sweep.
Kody Cardoza and
Tony Jacob combined to pitch 9.2 innings, giving up six hits, two runs (both unearned), while striking out nine and walking five to each earn victories in the doubleheader.
GAME ONE: Stan State took a 2-0 after its two batters of the doubleheader in game one this afternoon.
Robert Valdivia had a lead-off double and scored on
Kyle Rachels' home run over the left field fence. Cal State San Bernardino took a 3-2 lead with a three-run first of its own. Daniel Garcia Jr. had a two-out solo home run. Darryl Ruiz was hit by a pitch and went to second on a walk to Jake Borst. Giovanni Del Nel Negro was hit by pitch to load the bases. With two outs, Tyler Vannesti drove home Ruiz and Borst with a single to give the Coyotes a 3-2 lead.
The Warriors retook the lead in the top of the second.
Ryan Leonesio had a lead-off single. He went to third on back-to-back walks to Rachels and
Alex Solis. Leonesio scored the Warriors' third run of the game when
Tyler Van Dyk reached on a fielder's choice which Solis was out at second. With two outs,
Chris Catalano drove home Rachels with a single to left field to give the guests a 4-3 lead.
Cal State San Bernardino (8-8, 1-5 CCAA) tied the game in its half of the second. Jason Shedlock had a one-out single and stole second. He scored on a two-out single by Garcia to tie the game at 4-4.
Once again, Stan State retook the lead in the next half-inning.
Danny Murphy walked and went to second on a single by
JD Madrigal.
Ryan Leonesio had a sacrifice bunt which advanced each Warrior runner up a base. Murphy scored the fifth run of the game for the visitors on a
Robert Valdivia sacrifice fly.
The game remained 5-4 Warriors until a seven-run sixth inning by Stan State.
Alex Solis had a lead-off solo home run. Van Dyk followed that with a single and went to third on a Catalano double. Murphy was intentionally walked to load the bases. With one out, Madrigal drove home Van Dyk and Catalano with a single through the left side. Murphy scored on a one-out single by
Mac Cabero. Valdivia drew a walk to load the bases with one out. With two outs, Solis cleared the bases with a double to right center to increase Stan State's lead to 12-4.
CSUSB scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to cut Stan State's lead to 12-5. The Coyotes made it a game with a four-run seventh inning to cut the deficit to 12-9.
Stan State added an insurance run in the eighth. Valdivia had a lead-off single and scored on a one-out double by Solis to increase the Warriors' lead to 13-9.
The Coyotes cut the deficit to two, 13-11, with a two-run eight. In CSUSB's last at bat, Vanneste drew a one-out walk. He went to second when Patrick Fregoso pinch hit and walked. Stan State reliever
Austin Balentine induced the next batter to strike out and the final Coyote to ground out to him to send the game with Stan State victorious, 13-11.
STAN STATE HITTERS: Alex Solis went four-for-five with five runs batted in and a run scored. He two extra-base hits including a home run. Ryan Leonsio,
Mac Cabero,
Chris Catalano, and
Robert Valdivia each had two hits with Valdivia with three runs scored.
Kyle Rachels added a two-run home run.
WARRIOR PITCHERS: Kody Cardoza (2-0) picked up the win in relief, giving up three hits, no runs while striking out two and walking one.
Caleb Bertoncini and
Austin Balentine combined to pitch 3.1 innings of relief, giving up three hits, three runs (two earned), striking out two and walking five.
GAME TWO: For the second straight game, Stan State took an early 2-0 lead in its first at bat.
Robert Valdivia had a lead-off single and went to third on a one-out double by
Alex Solis. They scored on a two-out double by
Chris Catalano down the right field line. The Warriors added another run in the top of the second on a two-out solo home run by
Jackson Brooks.
Stan State doubled its lead on a three-run home run by Catalano that brough it in Solis and
Jerry Nix as the Warriors took a 6-0 lead.
The Warriors' starter
Tony Jacob (1-2) had a shutout going until the bottom of the seventh. Jeremy Giesegh drew a lead-off walk. He went to second on a Riley Parker single through the left side. With two outs, Giesegh and Parker scored when Garrett Macias reached on a two-base Warrior error to cut the Warrior lead to 6-2. Jacob struck out the last batter of the game to preserve the 6-2 Stan State victory.
STAN STATE HITTERS: The Warriors scored six runs on ten hits including five extra-base hits of which two were home runs.
Robert Valdivia was three-for-three with a runs scored.
Chris Catalano was two-for-four with five runs batted in and a runs scored.
Alex Solis was two-for-four with two runs scored.
WARRIOR PITCHERS: Tony Jacob pitched seven innings, giving up three hits and two unearned runs while striking out seven and walking four to pick up his first win of the season.
UP NEXT: The two teams will continue the four-game series tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m. at San Bernardino's Fiscalini Field for a single nine-inning game. The series will conclude tentatively on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. with another nine-inning game. Stan State returns home, March 8-10, for a four-game series with Chico State beginning with a 6:00 p.m. starting game on March 8.
