Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAN FRANCISCO — The Cal State East Bay baseball team allowed just three total runs in two games on Saturday as they won both ends of a road doubleheader against San Francisco State. The Pioneers (30-15, 20-15 CCAA) racked up 18 hits and won the first game 8-4 in eleven innings. They cruised to a 5-0 victory over the Gators (15-32, 12-27) in the second game behind Michael Pope's one-hit shutout. 

Game 1 – CSUEB 8, SF State 4 (11 Inn.)

The morning game was an excellent pitcher's duel between Sean Becker and Ryan De Jesus. They both pitched nine innings and gave up three runs, although neither would get a decision.

Eren Miravalles got East Bay on the board in the top of the third when he laced a triple into the right-center alley. Jordan Wilder brought him home with a ground out, and the Pioneers led 1-0. The Gators tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly.

SF State grabbed the lead in the fifth thanks to back-to-back two-out hits. Dillon Meyer and Grady Espinosa each hit RBI singles to give the Gators a 3-1 advantage.

Senior Charlie Sharrer got the big hit for East Bay to help keep them in the game. After an infield single and a walk, Sharrer came to the plate with runners on second and third and two outs. He proceeded to rake a double into the gap in left-center to plate both runs and tie the game 3-3.

It stayed that way until the 10th inning. With both starters finally out of the game, the Pioneers made a bid to capture the road win. Brandon Alexander and David Castillo reached base on consecutive singles. That brought up David Elzig, who ripped a base hit up the middle to bring home the go-ahead run.

Head coach Bob Ralston turned to Bryce Vidmar to start the bottom of the 10th, but the left-hander gave up back-to-back singles to start the inning. On the second hit, a misplay in the outfield allowed the tying run to come all the way around to score. Vidmar settled down to retire the next two batters, and then Ralston gave the ball to Ben O'Bryan, who got a ground out to end the inning.

The Pioneers finally did some damage with a four-spot in the top of the 11th. Zac Chuvala and Miravalles both singled, and Wilder bunted them over to second and third. Kyle Zozaya then gave the Pioneers the lead back by lifting a sacrifice fly to center field. Sharrer followed with an RBI single down the third base line, and then Alexander brought him home with a triple to the wall in center. A run-scoring base hit up the middle by Castillo finished off the East Bay rally.

O'Bryan got a strikeout and a double play in the bottom of the eleventh to lock down the win. The junior picked up the victory with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief; he's now 4-3 on the season.

Four Pioneer batters got three hits in the game: Alexander, Castillo, Elzig, and Sharrer, who also led the team with three RBI. Miravalles and Chuvala both went 2-for-6 with a pair of runs scored.

Game 2 – CSUEB 5, SF State 0 (7 Inn.)

After a back-and-forth affair in the first game, the second one was all East Bay. Pope (8-2) dominated, carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning. He ended up allowing just one hit in a complete game effort, with four walks and six strikeouts. The sophomore now leads the team and is tied for second in the CCAA in victories.

Gator starter Eric Watts matched zeroes with Pope for the first few innings, but then the Pioneers busted out for all the runs they would need in the fifth. Just like the 11th inning of game one, Chuvala and Miravalles led off with base hits, and Wilder advanced them with a sac bunt. Zozaya broke the scoreless tie with a two-run single, and Alexander followed with an RBI ground out. After Sharrer reached and stole second base, Bryson Nakamura made it 4-0 with an opposite field single. They got their fifth run the following inning when Miravalles hit a sacrifice fly to knock in Chris Porter, who had doubled.

Pope had not allowed a hit entering the seventh and final inning. He got the leadoff man to ground out, but then Randy Villa shot a single into right field to break up the no-no. The Pioneer right-hander was able to get a strikeout and a ground out to finish off the victory.

Zozaya finished 2-for-4 with two RBI. Miravalles also had two hits, scoring a run and driving in another. Wilder was on base twice with a single and a walk, also picking up a steal. Porter and Chuvala each had a hit and scored a run.

The series will conclude on Sunday with an 11 a.m. game back in Hayward. It will be Senior Day as the Pioneers go for the sweep, so there will be a brief ceremony prior to the first pitch to honors this year's 10 seniors and their families.