HAYWARD, Calif. -- Sophomore Dakota Conners roped a run-scoring double into the left-center gap in the eighth inning at Pioneer Field on Friday afternoon to lift the Cal State East Bay baseball team to a 3-2 win over Western Oregon in the opener of a four-game weekend series.

The Pioneers remain perfect on the young season with a record of 4-0, while the Wolves drop to 3-3. 

The fans in Hayward enjoyed a beautiful northern California afternoon and a well-pitched, back-and-forth baseball game. 

Sophomore Alex Vesia took the hill against WOU ace Brady Miller, and both hurlers made it through the first inning unscathed. The Wolves got on the scoreboard first on the bottom of the second, stringing together three hits and a sacrifice fly to take a one-run lead.

Vesia settled down after that and allowed just one hit over four scoreless frames. He departed after giving up one run on four hits in six innings, tallying three strikeouts without issuing a walk.

Myles Babitt scored for the Pioneers to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a pair of Western Oregon defensive errors. The senior was also in the middle of East Bay's scoring two innings later. After bunt hits by Rudy Navarro and Troy Resch put runners on the corners, Babitt gave CSUEB a 2-1 lead with an RBI ground out. 

Junior Joshua Kubiske relieved Vesia for the seventh, and the Wolves managed to tie the game on two singles and another sacrifice fly. The right-hander then retired four straight to finish his outing, preventing any further damage. 

In the bottom of the eighth, freshman Joey Dice ripped a pinch-hit single to left with one out, then promptly stole second base. That brought up Conners, who belted a line drive to the wall, splitting the outfielders and scoring Dice easily.

Junior Derek Oetken tossed a scoreless ninth inning for his second save of the season, and the Pioneers were able to celebrate a narrow win. 

Sophomore Andrew Fernandez (1-0) earned his second career victory after recording the last out of the eighth inning before East Bay took the lead for good. CSUEB's pitching staff has now allowed just four earned runs in 34 innings through the first four games. 

Navarro was the only Pioneer with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored. Conners and Resch were both on base twice as well, each notching a hit and a walk. 

The series continues on Saturday, Feb. 13, with a doubleheader scheduled for 11 a.m.