Cal State East Bay Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Sonoma State in Thrilling Fashion
ROHNERT PARK, Calif. - The Cal State East Bay Pioneers experienced a roller coaster of emotions during Saturday's CCAA doubleheader against Sonoma State at Seawolf Diamond. After a heartbreaking loss in the opener, the Pioneers showed their ability to battle in response and claim victory in an extra-inning affair in the later game.
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GAME SUMMARIES |
In the first game, After four scoreless innings, Jacob Froess hit a groundout RBI to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth. East Bay added a pair of runs in the top of the eighth when Luke Brown delivered a two-run double to drive in Micah Cervantes and Dominick Najar.
East Bay held a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, but Sonoma State mounted a late comeback. The Seawolves scored two runs in the eighth to close the gap, then delivered a dramatic finish in the ninth. Bryson McArn led off with a game-tying solo home run, and after a two-out double by Ben Saitz, Joey Replogle sealed the 4-3 win for Sonoma State with a walk-off RBI single.
The Pioneers refused to let the sting of defeat linger. In the second game, scheduled for seven innings, the Pioneers trailed 2-0. Then in the top of the fifth, Brown and Daniels delivered back-to-back RBI singles as the game was knotted at 2-2.
After Sonoma State added a pair of runs off RBI singles in the top of the fifth, the Seawolves led 4-2. East Bay found themselves trailing 4-2 with just two outs remaining in the top of the seventh. Danelle Daniels rose to the occasion, blasting a game-tying two-run homer to force extra innings. The teams battled through scoreless eighth and ninth innings before the Pioneers broke through in the 10th.
Jacob Klinovsky led off the 10th with a single, and pinch-runner Stevie Murata advanced to second on a balk, then reached third after a fly ball out. Quinn Ayres then delivered the go-ahead RBI groundout, scoring Murata to give East Bay a 5-4 lead. In the bottom of the frame, even with the bases eventually loaded, Hunter Timothy struck out the side to close out the win.
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NOTABLE STATS |
- Danelle Daniels was the hero of game two, finishing with three RBIs, including the crucial game-tying two-run homer in the seventh. It was his second home run of the season.
- Luke Brown extended his hitting streak to six games. He drove in two runs with a double in the first game and added another RBI in the second game.
- Jacob Klinovsky had a strong showing in game two, going 2-for-5 at the plate in game two.
- Andres De Leon delivered an impressive relief performance in the first game, pitching 6.1 innings and striking out eight batters.
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RECORDS |
Cal State East Bay: 4-6, 2-1 CCAA
Sonoma State: 4-7, 1-2 CCAA
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UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY |
The Pioneers will look to clinch the series win in the finale against Sonoma State on Sunday, February 23. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Seawolf Diamond in Rohnert Park, California.
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