HAYWARD, Calif. — Cal State East Bay baseball split its Friday doubleheader with Cal Poly Pomona at Pioneer Baseball Field in the final home series of the 2025 regular season. The Pioneers erupted for a 13-6 win in game one before falling in extra innings in game two, 3-1.
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GAME SUMMARIES |
Game One: Cal State East Bay 13, Cal Poly Pomona 6
After the Broncos took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly, the Pioneers answered emphatically in the bottom half. Dominick Najar led off with a single and stole second before eventually scoring on Luke Brown's bases-clearing double that drove in three runs. Jaylen Hodges followed with an RBI single and Jacob Froess added a groundout RBI for a 5-1 East Bay lead.
Pomona trimmed the lead to 5-3 by the third inning, and tied it up at 5-5 in the top of the fourth, but the Pioneers' offense reignited in the bottom of the fourth. Najar doubled and was followed by a single from Gio Martini. Camron Grant blasted a three-run home run to left, breaking the tie for an 8-5 lead.
The Pioneers padded their advantage in the fifth with RBI contributions from Najar and Danelle Daniels for a 10-5 lead.
Although the Broncos got one run back in the seventh off an error, the Pioneers sealed the game in the eighth when Hodges hit a three-run homer to left field for a 13-6 lead.
Jackson Ellis earned the win after pitching five innings and working out of multiple jams, while the bullpen held Pomona scoreless over the final two frames.
Game Two: Cal Poly Pomona 3, Cal State East Bay 1 (9 innings)Pomona opened the scoring in the third on a solo home run by Johnny Pappas, but East Bay equalized in the sixth. Camron Grant doubled to start the frame and Stevie Murata entered as a pinch runner, who would advance to third on a flyout. Murata then came home on a wild pitch to tie the game at 1-1.
The game remained deadlocked until the ninth, when the Broncos loaded the bases and Clay Porter delivered a two-run single to left, giving Pomona a 3-1 lead. Cal State East Bay was unable to rally in the bottom half, going down in order.
Starting pitcher Max Gonzales was strong through eight and a third innings, striking out six while allowing three earned runs on nine hits.
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NOTABLE STATS |
- Jaylen Hodges is on an eight-game hitting streak and is batting .339 on the season.
- Dominick Najar added one stolen base Friday, bringing his season total to 23.
- Jackson Ellis improved to 3-5 on the season with his win in game one.
- Camron Grant had four RBIs across the doubleheader, including a home run and a double.
- Max Gonzales was strong through 8.2 innings in game two, striking out six while allowing three earned runs on nine hits.
- The Pioneers tallied 17 hits in the game one victory.
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RECORDS |
Cal State East Bay: 19-30, 15-25 CCAA
Cal Poly Pomona: 15-33, 12-27 CCAA
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UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY |
Cal State East Bay and Cal Poly Pomona conclude their regular seasons on Saturday, May 3, with a noon first pitch at Pioneer Baseball Field. Prior to the game, the Pioneers will honor 23 seniors in a special Senior Day ceremony.
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