Box Score LOS ANGELES — No. 25 Cal State L.A. erased a seven-run deficit to defeat the Pioneer baseball, 10-9, in Sunday's series finale. The Golden Eagles (25-13, 22-6 CCAA) scored six runs in the ninth inning to walk off with the dramatic victory, earning a four game sweep over Cal State East Bay (24-14, 14-14 CCAA).

Nick Hudson started on the hill for the Pioneers and turned in an outstanding effort. The junior held the potent Cal State L.A. offense in check for the first couple innings, giving East Bay a chance to get on the board first. Eren Miravalles singled to lead off the third, Brandon Alexander walked, and Kyle Zozaya was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. A double by Charlie Sharrer and a single by David Castillo cleared the bags, making it 3-0 Pioneers.

Scott Masik drove in a run with a triple to get the Golden Eagles on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. The Pioneers answered right back, however. Alexander shot a base hit through the hole, stole second, and scored on a single by Zozaya.

The Pioneers picked up three more runs in the fifth as they started to pull away. Andrew Rodriguez knocked in Castillo with a ground out. After a pair of walks, Alexander raked a two-run double to right field. Hudson proceeded to retire nine of the next 10 Golden Eagles hitters, giving the Pioneers a 7-1 lead going into the eighth inning.

In the top of the inning, East Bay put two runners on base with a walk, and once again Rodriguez picked up an RBI with a ground out. Trailing 8-1, the dormant Golden Eagle offense finally broke through against Hudson. They racked up five hits in the inning and pushed across three runs. Nonetheless, the Pioneers took a seemingly comfortable lead into the ninth.

Miravalles doubled down the line, and Zozaya drove him in with a sacrifice fly, as the Pioneers scored for the fifth time in the final seven innings. With just three outs to go, East Bay led 9-4.

Hudson's afternoon was done after eight complete innings, the longest outing of the season for the right-hander. He allowed four earned runs on nine hits, walked just one, and struck out one. Head coach Bob Ralston turned to Ben O'Bryan, who was excellent in relief on Friday, to start the bottom of the ninth.

Cal State L.A. loaded the bases with no outs on a single through the left side sandwiched between two walks. Ralston then gave the ball to Sharrer to try to get out of the jam. Instead, he walked in a run on a 3-2 pitch. This brought the tying run to the plate in the person of James Wharton, who hit the first pitch he saw over the center field fence for a game-tying grand slam.

The bases were cleared, but there were still no outs in the ninth, and the Golden Eagles weren't done. Cody Doyle and Tyler Christian both singled, and Ryan Copperstone advanced them both with a sacrifice bunt. The Pioneers brought in Bryce Vidmar to face Niko Garcia, who got a squeeze bunt down to bring the winning run home.

Sharrer (0-4) was charged with three runs and suffered the defeat. He had a hit and a pair of RBI batting in the cleanup spot as the DH, and he hit .421 in the series. The top two batters in the Pioneer order both reached base four times: Miravlles was 3-for-5 with a walk and two runs, while Alexander went 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBI, and two runs.

Castillo was also on base four times; the senior finished 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored, and a run driven in, posting a team-best .455 average in the series. Zozaya was 1-for-3 on Sunday with a walk and a pair of RBI. Rodriguez had a hit and a walk and knocked in two runs. Zac Chuvala and David Elzig both went 1-for-4.

With the series sweep, the Pioneers now have some ground to make up in the conference standings. Next week, they'll host a four game series with Cal State Dominguez Hills starting on April 19.