Box score

HAYWARD, Calif. – The Pioneer baseball team opened the 2012 season on February 4 with a 6-2 defeat to visiting Sonoma. The game was played before 314 fans at Pioneer Field.

Trailing 1-0, the Pioneers tied the game in the bottom of the first inning. Brett Hall was hit by a pitch to open the inning and later scored on a double off the bat of Bryson Nakamura.

Garrett Gooselaw put the Seawolves ahead 3-2 in the third inning on a run scoring single.

The Pioneers, who hit into three double plays in the first four innings, tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Erik Rowen walked, advanced to third on a double by Hall and scored on Nakamura's groundout.

Devin Zenn put the Seawolves in front for good with a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning. The Seawolves added an unearned run later in the sixth.

Sonoma State secured the victory with solo runs in the seventh and ninth innings.

“It was a very competitive game,” Pioneer coach Bob Ralston said. “This game was an opportunity for us to learn about a quality opponent in our conference. I'm looking forward to playing Sonoma State at the end of the month.”  

The Seawolves' Thomas Lee allowed one run on three hits with two strikeouts in four innings of work to pick up the victory.

Steven Filippi led the Seawolves hitting attack by going 4-for-5 at the plate with a pair of RBIs.

Charlie Sharrer, the third of six Pioneer hurlers, was the losing pitcher. 

Ryan Devacenzi pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts in relief for the Pioneers.

Nakamura had a pair of hits and drove in both Pioneer runs. Jordan Wilder was 2-for-4 at the plate.

“Our first two hitters in the lineup, Hall and Nakamura, did a good job getting on base and coming up with key hits,” Ralston said.  

Cal State East Bay will host Azusa Pacific on February 9 at 2:30 p.m.