Box Score HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay baseball team improved to 3-0 Tuesday afternoon with a 6-0 win over visiting Central Washington. Matt Fontaine dominated on the mound for the Pioneers, tossing seven scoreless innings for his first career victory. The senior right-hander scattered four hits and struck out seven Wildcats.

After the teams played an entire game in two hours and nine minutes yesterday, it took a half hour just to get through the first inning today. When the dust settled, the Pioneers had a 3-0 lead, thanks in part to a pair of Central Washington miscues.

Andrew Rodriguez got it started for East Bay for the third day in a row, lacing a double down the left field line to lead off the game. He scored when Brandon Alexander hit a ball to the right side after a long at bat, and CWU second baseman JV Estella threw it away. That would prove to be all the runs the Pioneers would need.

“The first inning was big for us,” noted head coach Bob Ralston after the game. “That was a great at bat by Alexander, and we were able to take advantage of a few mistakes.”

Neither team scored until the bottom of the sixth when the Pioneers pushed across another run. Brandon Alexander and Jordan Wilder each hit singles to put runners on first and third, and Naea Kalehuawehe picked up the RBI with a ground out, making it 4-0.

Fontaine cruised through the first six innings without the Wildcats threatening. He finally got into some trouble in the top of the seventh when CWU got their first two runners on. After a ground out moved a runner to third, the senior bore down and escaped the jam. Kasey Beilec popped out to second base, and then Fontaine struck out pinch hitter Eddie Malone looking to end the inning.

“Our starting pitcher was outstanding today,” added Ralston. “Fontaine was in control, our defense was pretty good, and he got some big double plays for us.”

Taylor Kruger started the eighth inning on the mound for East Bay, making his second appearance of the series. The Wildcats loaded the bases with one out on two hits and an error, prompting head coach Bob Ralston to bring in his closer, Charlie Sharrer. Ethan Sterkel hit a chopper towards third that contacted the base runner, Joe Castro, who was called out. No runs were allowed to score on the interference. Sharrer then struck out Kyle Sani, getting him to chase a slider, and escaped the inning unscathed.

The Pioneers pushed across two more insurance runs in the eighth. Eren Miravalles and Jordan Wilder both drew walks to lead off the inning. Then David Elzig, who had entered the game on defense, singled through the right side to drive in a run. It was the first career hit and RBI for the freshman first baseman. Kyle Zozaya followed with an RBI ground out to make it 6-0.

Chris Schmalz relieved Sharrer to start the ninth inning, making his first appearance as a Pioneer. The right-hander pitched a perfect frame, striking out one, to close out the game.

Miravalles went 2-for-3 with a walk and a couple runs scored. He was the only player to notch multiple hits in the game, and he leads the Pioneers with five hits in the series.

With just two bases on balls issued today, the Pioneer pitchers have allowed just six walks in three games. As a staff, they've recorded 31 strikeouts and accumulated a 1.67 ERA.

The final game of the series is scheduled for 2 p.m. tomorrow as the Pioneers go for the sweep over Central Washington. Expected starting pitchers are Randy Button for the Wildcats and junior right-hander Nick Hudson for East Bay.