LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Stan State used a four-run second inning and a strong start from Austin Balentine to defeat Cal State Los Angeles 6-3 on Friday evening at Reeder Field, opening the four-game CCAA series with a win. Bradley Morris provided the big swing with a grand slam, while Austin Balentine earned the victory and Pierce Sailer closed the game to record the save.
The Warriors improve to 12-10 overall and 3-2 in CCAA play, while the Golden Eagles fall to 12-10 overall and 2-3 in conference action.
Cal State Los Angeles struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Cesar Chavez doubled to right center, moved to third on a passed ball and later scored on a groundout by Carson Panarisi to give the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead.
Stan State responded in the top of the second with a decisive rally. Chris Ortiz singled to start the inning and Chase Wilson followed with a double down the left-field line to put two runners in scoring position. After Korey Likens was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Morris launched a grand slam to right field to give the Warriors a 4-1 advantage.
Balentine settled in on the mound after the opening frame, keeping Cal State Los Angeles off the board through the middle innings. The Golden Eagles cut into the lead in the sixth when Omar Gonzalez hit a solo home run to right center to make it 4-2.
Cal State Los Angeles pulled within one run in the seventh. Kadyn Victorian walked and advanced into scoring position before coming home on a pair of wild pitches to trim the deficit to 4-3.
Stan State answered with insurance runs in the eighth inning. AJ Carter tripled to right field and scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 5-3. Later in the inning, Tyler Crudo reached on an error and eventually scored when Wilson singled through the right side to make it 6-3.
Balentine (5-1) earned the win, allowing two runs—one earned—on seven hits over six innings while striking out five. Jared Sawyer followed with an inning of relief before Eli Blurton recorded two outs in the eighth. Sailer entered with two runners on and finished the game with four outs, striking out three to secure his third save of the season, his third consecutive save, and the Warriors' reigning FloCollege/CCAA Baseball Pitcher of the Week.
Wilson led Stan State offensively, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Ortiz added two hits, and Morris drove in four runs with his grand slam as the Warriors scored six runs on six hits.
Warrior Notables
• Bradley Morris hit his second home run of the season, a grand slam in the second inning that accounted for four of Stan State's six runs.
• Austin Balentine improved to 5-1 on the season and is now 20-9 in his Stan State career with 165 strikeouts.
• Balentine is tied for sixth in program history in wins with Gene Oliver and ranks 10th all-time in strikeouts for the Warriors.
• Pierce Sailer recorded his third save of the season and his third consecutive save while working 1.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
• Chase Wilson finished 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
Up Next
Stan State and Cal State Los Angeles continue the four-game CCAA series with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 14 at Reeder Field in Los Angeles, Calif. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., followed by the second game at 4:00 p.m. The series concludes Sunday, March 15 at 12:00 p.m. with live stats and streaming available on FloCollege.
The Warriors will then return home to Warrior Baseball Field to host Cal Poly Pomona in a four-game CCAA series March 20–22, beginning with a single game at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20. The series continues with a doubleheader on Saturday and concludes Sunday.
