Box Score HAYWARD, Calif. — The Pioneer baseball team lost the opener of their four-game series with No. 4 Chico State by a score of 12-1 on Friday afternoon. Cal State East Bay (17-7, 10-7 CCAA) managed 10 hits, but couldn't put a big scoring rally together. The loss snaps a four-game Pioneer winning streak, and it's the sixth straight time the Wildcats (14-3, 7-2 CCAA) have beaten East Bay.

After a couple scoreless innings, Chico State got on the board first in the third inning with the help of a defensive miscue. With runners on second and third and one out, an error on a ground ball allowed the first two runs of the game to come home. The Wildcats then added two more runs on a triple and a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the inning, the Pioneers were able to answer back against Chico starter Nick Baker, who entered the game with a conference-leading 0.35 ERA, having allowed just one run in 26 innings. David Castillo led off with a long double down the right field line. Then on the next pitch, Andrew Rodriguez muscled a base hit up the middle to pick up the RBI and make it 4-1 Wildcats.

Unfortunately, that was as close as East Bay would get. Starting pitcher Ben O'Bryan settled down after the three unearned runs in the third and posted three straight scoreless frames as the Pioneers tried to claw back. Chico broke the game open in the seventh inning, though, scoring four more times and chasing O'Bryan from the game. He ended up allowed five earned runs in 6.2 innings and took his second loss of the year to fall to 2-2.

Senior Ryan Devencenzi was first out of the bullpen, making his first appearance of the season. The right-hander pitched two-thirds of an inning and was charged with four runs. Fellow Senior Zachary Wong followed with 0.2 innings, allowing no runs and picking up two strikeouts. Junior Chris Schmalz pitched a scoreless ninth inning to finish off the game.

Jordan Wilder went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the Pioneers offensively. Castillo and Rodriguez each went 2-for-3, with the former scoring the team's only run and the latter knocking it in. Brandon Alexander, Eren Miravalles, and Kenny Uyetake notched one hit apiece. The Pioneer lineup struck out just one time the entire game.

Baker ended up allowing nine hits in eight innings without walking a batter to improve to 4-0. Myles Dempsey was 4-for-4 to lead the Wildcats. The 11-run deficit marks East Bay's most lopsided loss of the season. The 12 runs and 13 hits by Chico are also the most the Pioneers have allowed in a game so far.

The Pioneers will look to even the series when the two teams are back in action Saturday morning. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 11 a.m., with the second game planned for seven innings. Reigning CCAA and West Region Pitcher of the Week Sean Becker is expected to get the start for East Bay in the first game.