TURLOCK, Calif. — Stan State returns home this weekend to begin an eight-game homestand, hosting Chico State in a four-game CCAA series at Warrior Baseball Diamond April 17–19. The series opens Friday at 6:00 p.m., continues with a Saturday doubleheader at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., and concludes Sunday at 12:00 p.m. The Warriors have 12 games remaining in the regular season, including eight at home, before closing out the regular season on the road at Cal State Monterey Bay April 30–May 2.

Road Series Recap: Cal State San Bernardino

Stan State went 0-3 on the road at Cal State San Bernardino last weekend to move to 16-20 overall and 7-12 in CCAA play. The Warriors recorded 25 hits in the three-game series, including four home runs, with Eric Perez leading the way with three hits, two home runs and four RBI. AJ Carter added three hits and two doubles, while Chase Wilson had two hits including a home run and four RBI.

On the mound, Eli Blurton tossed 3.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, while Evan Fanconi allowed just one run over 3.1 innings.

Last Meeting vs. Chico State

Stan State and Chico State last met in a non-conference series in late January in Chico, with the Wildcats taking two of three games. The Warriors opened the series with a 10-8 loss before falling 3-1 in game two, but responded with a 7-1 victory in the finale.

Tyler Crudo and Jacob Reyes each led the Warriors with five hits in the series, while Mason Kelley added five hits including two doubles. Kian Sanchez recorded four hits, including a home run and four RBI.

On the mound, Rocco Gurrola picked up the win in the series finale, allowing just one run over five innings, while Payton Hawkinson tossed seven strong innings in game two, allowing just one run and no hits.

Series History vs. Chico State

Chico State leads the all-time series 48-22 over Stan State since 2008. The Warriors are 11-27 at home and 10-20 on the road in the series, including a 20-44 record in CCAA play.

The two teams split their most recent CCAA series in Chico during the 2025 season, with each team winning two games. Stan State has won four of the last 10 meetings between the programs dating back to 2024 and enters the weekend having won the most recent matchup, a 7-1 victory in Chico on Feb. 28, 2026.

Stan State's last home win over Chico State came on March 10, 2024, when the Warriors defeated the Wildcats 12-6 in Turlock behind a strong offensive performance and a win by Austin Balentine on the mound.  Stan State's largest margin of victory in the series was an 18-5 win on March 20, 2010, while the smallest margin of victory was a 9-8 decision on May 3, 2025. The two programs have combined for 290 runs in the series, averaging 4.14 runs per game.

Warriors Update

Through 36 games, Stan State is batting .271 as a team with 317 hits, 71 doubles, six triples and 27 home runs while scoring 198 runs. The Warriors carry a .411 slugging percentage and a .347 on-base percentage entering this weekend's CCAA series.

On the mound, Stan State owns a 5.77 team ERA with 213 strikeouts in 295 innings. Opponents are hitting .287 against Warrior pitching, and the defense has compiled a .955 fielding percentage.

Offensive Leaders

Kian Sanchez leads the team with a .432 batting average, recording 32 hits, six doubles, three home runs and 17 RBI. Zach Lewis has a team-high 42 hits and 12 doubles while batting .316, and AJ Carter is hitting .296 with 32 hits, three triples, three home runs and a team-best 24 RBI.

Chase Wilson is batting .296 with 24 hits and 14 RBI, while Tyler Crudo has recorded 33 hits and 14 RBI. Mason Kelley has added 31 hits and a team-high 22 RBI, and Chris Ortiz has 22 hits and 18 RBI.

Pitching Leaders

Austin Balentine leads the staff with a 5-4 record and a 5.25 ERA over 48 innings while striking out 35. Pierce Sailer has recorded four saves with a 3.60 ERA, while Eli Blurton owns a 3.15 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 20 innings.  Evan Fanconi is 2-0 with a 4.86 ERA in 16.2 innings, while Payton Hawkinson has struck out 24 batters in 41.2 innings of work.

By the Numbers

Stan State is 16-20 overall and 7-12 in CCAA play entering the weekend, including an 11-8 record at home. The Warriors are 14-6 when out-hitting their opponent and 10-7 when scoring first, and they are 15-2 when leading after six innings. Offensively, Stan State is 12-3 when scoring six or more runs and 4-1 when scoring 10 or more.

Seeing Double

Stan State has recorded 40 multi-hit games in CCAA play this season, including 33 two-hit performances, six three-hit efforts and one four-hit game. Chris Ortiz leads the way with seven multi-hit games, while Zach Lewis has six.  Chase Wilson and Tyler Crudo have each added five, and Eric Perez has recorded four multi-hit efforts.

Driving Them In

The Warriors have totaled 20 multi-RBI games in conference play, led by Mason Kelley, Zach Lewis and Chris Ortiz with three each. AJ Carter, Eric Perez and Chase Wilson have each recorded two multi-RBI performances, while Tyler Crudo and Bradley Morris have each contributed one three-RBI game.

Streaks to Watch

AJ Carter carries the team's longest hitting streak of the season at seven games. Zach Lewis and Chase Wilson have also recorded six-game hitting streaks this season.

Carter also leads the team with a seven-game active reached-base streak, while Eric Perez and Chris Ortiz have each reached base in four consecutive games. Earlier this season, Tyler Crudo posted a team-best 11-game reached-base streak, with Chase Wilson adding an eight-game streak.

NCAA Statistical Leaders

Stan State continues to find success both individually and as a team, highlighted by standout closer Pierce Sailer, who ranks No. 38 nationally with four saves and sits second in the CCAA, giving the Warriors a dependable option in late-game situations. As a staff, the Warriors have excelled in limiting free passes, ranking No. 19 in Division II in walks allowed per nine innings (3.57), which is also second-best in the conference. That pitching discipline has translated into results, as Stan State is also No. 27 nationally in shutouts (3)—leading the CCAA—while their No. 58 national ranking in WHIP (1.55) further underscores a group that continues to keep opponents in check and give the Warriors a chance to win in tight contests.

CCAA Leaders

Stan State ranks among the CCAA leaders in several categories this season. The Warriors are first in saves and strikeout-to-walk ratio (213-74) and tied for first in shutouts. Stan State also ranks third in doubles with 71 and fifth in ERA.

Individually, Zach Lewis ranks fourth in the conference in doubles, while Korey Likens is tied for second in sacrifice hits. Austin Balentine ranks fifth in innings pitched and is tied for sixth in wins.  On the mound, Pierce Sailer is tied for second in saves, while Eli Blurton is tied for sixth.

FloCollege / CCAA Weekly Awards

Stan State has had multiple players recognized in the CCAA Baseball Weekly Awards this season. Austin Balentine has earned CCAA Pitcher of the Week honors twice (Jan. 30–Feb. 1 and Feb. 16–22), while Pierce Sailer was named CCAA Pitcher of the Week for the week of March 2–8.

Warrior Record Book

Austin Balentine continues to climb the Stan State career record book, as he is tied for sixth all-time with 20 career wins and now ranks ninth in program history with 171 strikeouts. Nick Voumard ranks eighth with 173 strikeouts, while Eric Federico sits 10th with 170.

Pierce Sailer has also moved into the Stan State single-season record book, as he is tied for ninth with four saves. Eric Cendejas ranks eighth with five saves, while Andrew Troncale and Mike Shaw are tied for sixth with six. Sailer is two saves away from moving into a tie for sixth on the single-season list and is also just two saves away from breaking into the program's top 10 for career saves.

CCAA Standings

Cal Poly Pomona, receiving votes nationally, leads the CCAA standings at 15-8 in conference play and 23-14 overall. No. 13 Cal State Monterey Bay is close behind at 13-7 in CCAA action and 28-10 overall, followed by Cal State San Bernardino at 11-8 and 19-17 overall.

Cal State Los Angeles is 13-11 in conference play, while Cal State San Marcos and Cal State East Bay are both 10-10. Chico State enters the weekend at 8-12 and 19-19 overall, while Stan State is 7-12 in conference play and 16-20 overall, just ahead of Cal State Dominguez Hills at 8-16.

The top five teams at the conclusion of the regular season will advance to the 2026 CCAA Baseball Championship Tournament, scheduled for May 6–9 at Fiscalini Field in San Bernardino.

This Week in the CCAA

Conference play continues this weekend with a full slate of games across the CCAA. Stan State hosts Chico State in Turlock, while Cal State San Marcos travels to Cal State East Bay. Cal State San Bernardino heads to No. 13 Cal State Monterey Bay, and Cal Poly Pomona visits Cal State Los Angeles.  All four series begin Friday, continue with Saturday doubleheaders, and conclude Sunday. Cal State Dominguez Hills has the week off.

Scouting Chico State

Chico State enters the weekend at 19-19 overall and 8-12 in CCAA play, including a strong 17-12 record at home but just 2-7 on the road. The Wildcats are coming off their most recent series at home against Cal State San Bernardino (April 3–5).

Offensively, Chico State is hitting .266 as a team with 311 hits, 45 doubles, nine triples and three home runs while scoring 189 runs. 

Myles Walton leads the lineup with a .330 batting average, while Keoni Coloma is hitting .295 with five triples and 17 RBI. Jackson Snitko has recorded 32 hits and 18 RBI, and Michael Baker has added 25 hits and 16 RBI.

On the mound, Chico State owns a 4.22 team ERA with 219 strikeouts in 320 innings. Jakob Poole leads the staff with a 5-1 record and a 2.20 ERA, while Jack Tews has struck out 25 batters in 46.2 innings. Out of the bullpen, Dane Padrnos has been effective with a 1.12 ERA and two saves.

Chico State has played well in close games this season, going 6-2 in one-run contests and 4-1 in extra-inning games.

Blue Chip Broadcasting / FloCollege

All eight games of this home stand can be heard on Blue Chip Broadcasting and streamed live on FloCollege, with Stan State Hall of Famer Bryan Nelson on the call. Live stats will also be available at warriorathletics.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary.

Up Next

Stan State remains at home the following weekend to host Cal State Dominguez Hills beginning Friday, April 24 at 6 p.m., which will also serve as Blue Chip Broadcasting Sponsor Night. Sponsors recognized that evening include Crivelli Insurance, CUTS Steakhouse, Play It Again Sports, Katana Sushi, Modesto Subaru, InsureCAL, City Directory, Price Ford and KW Recovery Lab. The series continues with a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and wraps up Sunday at 12 p.m.

Senior Day will take place on Sunday, April 26 at 11:30 a.m. prior to the series finale against Cal State Dominguez Hills at Warrior Baseball Diamond. Stan State will honor Shane Callison, Jacob Reyes, Cameron Rosen, Tyler Crudo, Korey Likens, AJ Carter, Rocco Gurrola, Austin Balentine, Eric Perez, Bradley Morris, Herman Luna, Zach Geiss, Arthur Navarette Jr., Evan Fanconi, Jared Sawyer, Adam Davies, Chase Wilson, Chris Ortiz, Austin Sargent and Cole Pacheco.

Stan State closes out the regular season on the road at nationally ranked Cal State Monterey Bay beginning Thursday, April 30 at 6 p.m. in Seaside. The series continues with a Friday doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and concludes Saturday, May 2 at 12 p.m.