Box Score HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay baseball team improved to 2-0 in the young 2013 season with a 5-2 win over Central Washington Monday afternoon. The Pioneers scored all their runs with two outs in the fourth inning, capped off by a three-run double from Andrew Rodriguez. That proved to be plenty of scoring, as Michael Pope, Sean Becker, and Charlie Sharrer combined for a tremendous pitching performance, allowing just seven total base runners.

The Wildcats (0-2) struck first, getting to Pioneer starter Michael Pope for two runs in the opening frame. The rally started when Joe Castro ripped a triple into the alley to lead off the game. Pope came back to strike out Justin Weigel, but the Wildcat hitters followed with a single, a walk, and another single to go up 2-0 before the Pioneers had a chance to bat.

Pope settled down and put up zeroes in four consecutive innings, including a huge 1-2-3 fifth after East Bay grabbed the lead. The sophomore tossed 5.0 innings to earn the victory in his first career start. He allowed four hits and two walks, while striking out nine.

“Pope looked good in his first outing and proved he can be a quality starter for us,” said head coach Bob Ralston after the game. “He settled down after that first inning and did a really good job commanding the strike zone.”

It took two times through the lineup, but the Pioneers finally broke through against CWU starter Stuart Fewel in the bottom of the fourth. Eren Miravalles walked to lead off the inning, and Jordan Wilder followed with a single. Fewel got the next two batters, but then David Castillo and Roger Luna lined back-to-back base hits up the middle to tie the game at 2-2.

The Wildcats made a pitching change, but after Zac Chuvala worked a walk to load the bases, Rodriguez once again had the biggest hit of the game. The Pioneers' centerfielder laced a two-out double iust inside the third base bag, clearing the bases and giving East Bay a 5-2 advantage. The senior from Union City has now reached base five times in two games after going 1-for-4 with three RBI and a stolen bag.

Pope left after five innings and was replaced by Sean Becker, making his first appearance in the red and black. The junior right-hander was impressive, allowing just one hit and striking out two as he mowed through the Wildcat lineup for three innings.

Charlie Sharrer pitched a perfect ninth inning for his first save of the year. The hard-throwing Pioneer closer notched two strikeouts after having played the first eight innings in right field.

Luna was the only Pioneer to record multiple hits, going 2-for-4 and scoring on Rodriguez's double. The junior third baseman has an RBI in each of his first two games for East Bay.

“Our defense was better today,” added Ralston. “And the two-out hits in the fourth inning were huge for us. Rodriguez has really been setting the tempo out of the lead-off spot.”

The Pioneers are 2-0 to open the season for the first time since 2009, when they won their first three. Both teams did all their scoring in just one inning, and the pitching staffs combined to issue just six total walks; as a result, Monday's game ran a scant two hours, nine minutes.

With at least a split already secured, the Pioneers take on Central Washington again tomorrow afternoon for the third game of the series. The Wildcats will start Tyler Roberts, while East Bay is expected to go with senior right-hander Matt Fontaine. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. from Pioneer Field.