Box Score TURLOCK, Calif. — The Pioneer baseball team split its doubleheader at Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday, beating the Warriors 13-2 in the first game and narrowly dropping the second game 6-5. Michael Pope picked up the victory for East Bay (10-4, 3-4 CCAA) to improve to 4-0 on the season. The Pioneer bats racked up 25 hits in the two games, led by Eren Miravalles with five hits and Kyle Zozaya and Brandon Alexander with four. The Pioneers now lead the series 2-1 heading into Sunday's finale, guaranteeing them at least a split with Stanislaus (5-9 2-5 CCAA) for the first time in three years.

Game 1 — CSU East Bay 13, CSU Stanislaus 2

The Pioneers never trailed in the morning game, scoring in six of the nine innings to pull off the lopsided 11-run victory. The East Bay offense hammered out 18 hits, with five different players getting multiple knocks. It started in the second inning, when the Pioneers put their first two runners on with a walk and a single. After a wild pitch, senior David Castillo drove in Jordan Wilder with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0, and East Bay never looked back.

The following inning, the Pioneers hung a four-spot on the board. Two walks sandwiched around a Miravalles double loaded the bases with one out. After Zozaya brought in a run with a sac fly, CSUEB mounted a two-out rally. Naea Kalehuawehe doubled into the right-center gap, plating two, and Castillo followed with an RBI single to right. By the time the third inning ended, the Pioneers led 5-0.

Kalehuawehe knocked in another run in the fifth for East Bay. Miravalles and Wilder set the table with base hits to start the inning, and the Pioneer designated hitter cashed in with his third RBI of the game. They added four more runs in the sixth, and it all started when Zac Chuvala reached on a throwing error by the shortstop. With one out, Andrew Rodriguez, Alexander, and Miravalles hit consecutive singles to make it 8-0. Wilder then plated a run with a ground out, and Zozaya picked up a two-out RBI with a base hit to right field.

When Pope returned to the mound for the sixth inning, he did it with a 10-0 lead. After three singles, head coach Bob Ralston went to his bullpen, calling on senior Zachary Wong to protect the lead. The Warriors scored two runs in the inning, but Wong avoided further damage and went on to pitch a scoreless seventh inning as well.

Bryson Nakamura notched an RBI in the eighth, two innings after he replaced Wilder in left field. After Miravalles drove a triple into the right-center gap, Nakamura laced a single into left to plate the eleventh Pioneer run. East Bay tacked on two more runs in the ninth when Chuvala, Alexander, and freshman David Elzig all got base hits to load the bases with two outs. Once again it was Miravalles getting it done at the dish, as the junior second baseman singled home two more runs to make it 13-2 Pioneers.

Miravalles was 5-for-6 in the game, the first five-hit game for any Pioneer this season. He scored four runs (also a season high) and drove in three more, racking up eight total bases. Miravalles wasn't the only one getting in on the fun, however — nine of his teammates also got hits in the game. Alexander was on base four times with two hits and two walks, scoring twice and driving in a run. Kalehuawehe was 2-for-4, knocking in three, and Zozaya was also 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Chuvala went 2-for-5 and scored two runs out of the nine slot. Wilder was on base three times and scored twice, and Castillo drive in two runs in a 1-for-3 day.

Pope ended up going 5.0 innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out four to earn his fourth victory in as many starts. Junior Chris Schmalz came in to relieve Wong to start the eighth inning and pitched the final two frames without surrendering a run. The right-hander allowed one hit and picked up one strikeout.

Game 2 — CSU Stanislaus 6, CSU East Bay 5

Pioneer starter Matt Fontaine suffered from some bad luck in the afternoon game, similar to last week when he was on the losing end of a 3-1 pitcher's duel despite tossing a complete game for the Pioneers. In game two Saturday, it was defense that let East Bay down, and as such they ended up playing from behind the entire game.

The Warriors drew first blood in the bottom of the first when they mounted a modest rally against the Pioneers' senior right-hander. A single, a sacrifice bunt, and an infield hit brought home the first run of the game. East Bay answered right back with a run in the second, however. Elzig, making his first start as a Pioneer, walked and then advanced to third base on an error by the shortstop and a ground out. With two out, Alexander tied the game with a base hit.

Stanislaus regained the lead in the bottom of the third. An infield hit and a throwing error put Ross Gonzalves on second base. He then attempted to steal third and scored when Castillo's throw went into left field. The following inning, the Warriors put up a crooked number with the help of another defensive miscue. After a fielding error extended the bottom of the fourth, Matt Chaidez laced a two-run double into left-center, and Gonzalves followed with an RBI single up the middle. At the end of four, Stanislaus had taken a 5-1 lead.

The fireworks started (figuratively) in the sixth inning, and the resulting chaos gave the Pioneers a chance to make a comeback. Warrior starter Dustin Baisdon was thrown out of the game after hitting Miravalles with a pitch to lead off the inning. Per rule, CSUS head coach Kenny Leonesio was also ejected. With a new pitcher in the game, East Bay mounted a rally. Wilder laced a single to right, Zozaya drove a double into the right-center gap, and Kalehuawehe poked a base hit up the middle, making it 5-3 Warriors. Castillo then drove in a run with a ground out, and Chuvala followed with a big two-out single to right field to tie the game at 5-5.

East Bay had the momentum and turned to their closer to start the bottom of the sixth. Charlie Sharrer came into the game still un-scored upon for the season, but he walked the lead-off man to start the inning. After a sac bunt, the senior right-hander got a fly out for the second out of the inning. Sharrer's day ended prematurely, however. He hit the next batter, Chaidez, with a pitch and was immediately tossed from the game (as well as, by rule, coach Ralston). Left-hander Bryce Vidmar came into replace Sharrer, but the Pioneer defense, perhaps losing some focus with all the ejections, gave the lead right back to Stanislaus. With first and third, the Warriors attempted a double steal, and Castillo's throw got away, allowing Tynan Pedretti to score. The Pioneers made another error in the inning, and although Vidmar escaped without further damage, that one run proved to be the game-winner.

Sharrer (0-1) took the loss for East Bay, allowing an unearned run in 0.2 innings. Fontaine didn't factor in the decision after giving one earned run on seven hits in five innings of work. The senior struck out two batters and walked none. Zozaya and Alexander were each 2-for-4 with an RBI in the game.

The Pioneers return home to Hayward on Sunday, where they'll attempt to win the series over CSU Stanislaus and reach .500 in conference play. First pitch for the finale is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Pioneer Field.