Skip To Main Content

Cal State East Bay University Athletics

Scoreboard desktop

Bryson Nakamura batting
Michael Chen/KLCFotos.com
Nakamura led the Pioneers with 3 hits and 2 RBI in Friday's win over SF State.

Pioneers Outlast SF State 5-3 in Series Opener

4/26/2013 6:22:00 PM

Box Score HAYWARD, Calif. — Senior Matt Fontaine pitched his second consecutive complete game as the Pioneer baseball team picked up a crucial 5-3 win over visiting San Francisco State on Friday afternoon. Cal State East Bay (28-15, 18-15 CCAA) and SF State (15-30, 12-25 CCAA) combined for 23 hits in the game, but both starting pitchers did a nice job working out of jams. The Pioneers are now 23-5 at home in 2013.

The game was scoreless into the bottom of the third inning when East Bay struck first. An error and a walk put two on with two out, and Charlie Sharrer made the Gators pay by smashing a two-run double into left-center. Bryson Nakamura followed with a single to right to bring Sharrer home from second.

After four scoreless frames, SF State finally got to Fontaine in the fifth. With two outs, A.J. Almaraz doubled down the third base line, and leadoff hitter Dillon Meyer shot a single up the middle to make to 3-1.

The Pioneers answered right back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Brandon Alexander walked and Eren Miravalles laced an opposite-field single to put two on with two out. Nakamura sliced an infield single into the hole between third and shortstop to knock in his second run of the game. The next batter was David Castillo, and the senior made it 5-1 with an RBI single into left field.

The Gators cut into the Pioneer lead with back-to-back two-out RBI hits in the seventh inning. Fontaine escaped the jam, however, by picking off Grady Espinosa at first base.

SF State went in order in the eighth, and so Fontaine came back out for the ninth. He got the first two batters, but then consecutive singles brought the go-ahead run to the plate with two outs. Meyer gave Fontaine a good battle, but the seventh pitch of the at bat was a called third strike to secure the victory for the Pioneers.

Fontaine (5-1) now has three wins in the team's last five games. For the second week in a row, he went the distance, scattering 11 hits in nine innings of work. The right-hander allowed two earned runs, didn't walk a batter, and struck out eight.

“Fontaine was a bulldog today,” said head coach Bob Ralston after the game. “He has been really clutch for us these last few weeks, and the team rallied around him in this game.”

Nakamura had a three-hit day, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base. Castillo went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Sharrer finished 2-for-4 with a run and two driven in. Alexander was on base three times with two hits and a walk, scoring twice. Zozaya went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. Zac Chuvala and David Elzig added one hit each.

The series continues tomorrow with an 11 a.m. doubleheader at Maloney Field in San Francisco. The Pioneers are expected to send Sean Becker to the mound in the first game and Michael Pope to the hill in the nightcap.
Print Friendly Version