HAYWARD, Calif. - In a rainy 2025 season opener, the Cal State East Bay Pioneers took a 4-0 lead into the top of the ninth inning, only to allow five runs against the Montana State-Billings Yellowjackets at Pioneer Baseball Field on January 31, 2025 as the Pioneers were edged out 5-4 in favor of the MSUB.
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GAME SUMMARY |
After a leadoff single in the bottom of the third, followed by reaching second on a single by Danelle Daniels, Gio Martini scored the first run of the season for East Bay when Micah Cervantes reached on an error allowing Martini to come to the plate.
Quinn Ayres led off the bottom of the fourth with a single, and stole second base to be in scoring position. The Pioneers led 2-0 when Ayres scored off an RBI single from Jacob Klinovsky.
Martini had another leadoff hit in the bottom of the fifth, only this time it was a double. In the next at bat, Daniels drove in Martini to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Aidan Morton led off as a pinch hitter, and doubled. After reaching second base, Dominick Najar pinch ran for Morton, reached third base on a sacrifice bunt from Jaylen Hodges, then scored East Bay's fourth run on an RBI groundout hit by Robert Ellwanger.
Taking a 4-0 lead into the ninth inning, the Yellowjackets battled back. They loaded the bases with no outs, then Cole Ayala drew a bases-loaded walk to get MSUB on the board. Then Ryker Fortier hit a sacrifice fly to cut CSUEB's lead to 4-2. Then, Jason Wright entered the game as a pinch hitter and delivered a 3-run home run to put MSUB ahead 5-4.
The Pioneers, not to be outdone, loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with three straight walks with no outs, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. However, a sudden downpour delayed the game, and upon resumption, Cal State East Bay couldn't capitalize, succumbing to a strikeout and a double play that ended the game.
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NOTABLE STATS |
- Daniels went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and reached base three times.
- Martini also went 2-for-4.
- In a no-decision, Gabe Tanner started the game and pitched 7.0 scoreless innings with six strikeouts and five hits allowed.
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RECORDS |
Cal State East Bay: 0-1
MSU Billings: 1-0
A second game of a doubleheader was scheduled for Friday, but was postponed due to weather.
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UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY |
The Pioneers are scheduled to face MSU Billings once again on Saturday to continue the series at Pioneer Baseball Field as they look to even the series and notch their first win of the season. The teams are set for another showdown at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
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