Game 1 box | Game 2 box

HAYWARD, Calif. - Eddie Rettagliata hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Pioneers to a 4-3 victory over Northwest Nazarene in the first game of a doubleheader on February 18. Northwest Nazarene took the second game and the four-game series, 7-3.

With one out, pinch hitter Tanner Laran was safe on an error and scored on Rettagliata's second home run of the season.

The Crusaders took advantage of two Pioneer errors to score three runs in the top of the ninth inning. Jon Matos doubled home two runs with two outs to give Northwest Nazarene a 3-2 lead.

The Pioneers opened the scoring with an unearned run in the bottom of the third. Rettagliata singled to lead off the inning and later scored on a wild pickoff attempt.

Andrew Woolfe was robbed of his fourth home run of the season to open the bottom of the fourth inning. Kyle Zozaya followed with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored a David Castillo's sacrifice fly.

Pioneer starting hurler Bryce Miller had an outstanding performance on the mound as he allowed no runs on six hits and posted a career-high 12 strikeouts.

AJ Gallardo, who came in to strikeout Derek Bettinson to end a Crusader rally in the eighth inning, was the winning pitcher for the Pioneers.

The Crusaders' Kaleb DeHass was 3-for -4 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI. Starting hurler Charles Pollock allowed two runs, one earned on four hits and seven strikeouts in seven innings.    

In the second game, the Crusaders scored five runs on five hits in the third inning.

Charlie Sharrer drove in two Pioneer runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on a double down the leftfield line.
The Pioneers pushed across an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh.

Rettagliata was 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored. The Pioneers received good performances from relievers Ben O'Bryan, Felipe Carvajal and Nolan Cassidy who each pitched a scoreless inning. O'Bryan and Cassidy each had two strikeouts.

Following the four-game series with Northwest Nazarene, the Pioneers are 5-4 for the season. The Crusaders are 7-1.

Cal State East Bay will begin CCAA play with a four-game series against Sonoma State beginning on February 24. The two teams will play a doubleheader at Pioneer Field on February 24 and conclude the series  with a doubleheader at Rohnert Park on February 25.