TURLOCK, Calif. — Stan State opened its CCAA series with a 9–6 loss to Cal State East Bay on Friday evening at Warrior Baseball Field. The Warriors carried a late lead into the ninth inning, but a four-run outburst by the Pioneers — all coming with two outs — proved to be the difference as Stan State moved to 9–9 overall and 0–1 in conference play, while East Bay improved to 9–7 overall and 1–0 in the CCAA.

The Warriors built momentum early and carried it into the middle innings.

Stan State struck first in the second inning when Chase Wilson worked a walk and later scored on a Chris Ortiz double to right center to give the Warriors a 1–0 lead.

The offense added to the advantage in the third. AJ Carter singled, and Mason Kelley followed with a two-run home run to left field — his third of the season — to push the lead to 3–0.

After East Bay trimmed the deficit with a run in the fourth, Stan State answered right back. Zach Lewis doubled to lead off the bottom of the fourth and eventually scored on a Cameron Taylor sacrifice bunt to extend the lead to 4–1.

The Warriors added another run in the fifth. Carter singled to right center and later came around to score on an RBI single up the middle from Lewis, giving Stan State a 5–1 cushion.

Cal State East Bay responded with three runs in the sixth — aided by a throwing error — to close within 5–4, then tied the game in the seventh on an unearned run following a double and another Warrior miscue.

Stan State briefly regained the lead in the eighth. Korey Likens drew a walk and advanced on an infield single by Ortiz before coming home on a throwing error to put the Warriors back in front, 6–5.

In the ninth, Stan State recorded two quick outs before the Pioneers mounted their rally. A walk and a single kept the inning alive, and Dylan Unangst delivered a three-run double to left center with two outs. East Bay plated all four of its runs in the inning after the second out was recorded to take a 9–6 advantage.

Stan State finished with nine hits in the contest. Carter went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, while Kelley finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Lewis added two hits, including a double, and drove in a run. Ortiz also recorded two hits, including an RBI double.

Austin Balentine started on the mound and went 5.2 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) while striking out six. Cameron Rosen followed with 1.1 innings of relief, surrendering one unearned run. Eli Blurton (2–2) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs in 1.2 innings in the ninth.

Cal State East Bay totaled eight hits, with Unangst driving in four runs and Marc DiCarlo Jr. adding three RBIs. Derek Murphy (2–0) earned the win, and Lincoln Juarez recorded his third save.

WARRIOR NOTABLES

• Mason Kelley hit his third home run of the season and recorded his sixth multi-hit game and fourth multi-RBI game of the year.

• AJ Carter recorded his sixth multi-hit game of the season and scored twice. He has five multi-RBI games this year.

• Zach Lewis tallied his sixth multi-hit performance of the season and collected his second multi-RBI game.

• Chris Ortiz recorded his first multi-hit game and first multi-RBI game of the season.

UP NEXT

Stan State continues its four-game CCAA series against Cal State East Bay on Saturday, March 7, with a doubleheader at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., before wrapping up the series Sunday, March 8 at 12:00 p.m. at Warrior Baseball Field. All games will be streamed on FloCollege with live audio on Blue Chip Broadcasting and live stats available online.

The Warriors then travel south for a four-game CCAA series at Cal State Los Angeles, beginning Friday, March 13 at 6:00 p.m., followed by a Saturday, March 14 doubleheader at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., and concluding Sunday, March 15 at 12:00 p.m. at Reeder Field.

Stan State returns home March 20–22 to host Cal Poly Pomona for another four-game conference set, starting Friday at 6:00 p.m., continuing with a Saturday doubleheader at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., and finishing Sunday at 12:00 p.m. at Warrior Baseball Field. All CCAA contests will be streamed on FloCollege with live stats available.