HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay baseball dropped the opener of its three-game series with visiting Cal Poly Pomona in heartbreaking fashion on Friday afternoon, as the Broncos scored five runs in the ninth inning to capture a 5-0 win.

The fans at Pioneer Field saw a tremendous pitching dual between the Pioneers (14-8, 5-6 CCAA) and the defending California Collegiate Athletic Association and NCAA West Region champion Broncos. Both starting pitchers worked into the ninth inning in a game that took just 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Sophomore left-hander Alex Vesia turned in his best outing of the 2016 season, shutting Cal Poly Pomona down through the first eight innings. Opposing starter Max Bethell was up to the task, however, and matched Vesia zero for zero on the scoreboard. 

East Bay got runners in scoring position in the third and fourth innings, then out two base runners on in the fifth, but Bethell escaped the jam each time. 

Vesia got into trouble in the sixth, issuing a pair if walks to load the bases with one out. But he came back to strike out Jason Padlo before getting a fly out to end the inning unscathed. 

The southpaw worked a 1-2-3 eighth, then came back out for the ninth in a scoreless tie. Vesia gave up a pair of singles sandwiched around a ground out to put two runners on, and head coach Bob Ralston turned to his bullpen.

Closer Derek Oetken had allowed just four hits in seven appearances this season coming into the game, but he gave up four straight hits with one out as the Broncos broke the game open. 

Vesia suffered the tough-luck loss, dropping the reigning CCAA Freshman of the Year's record to 2-3. Bethell earned the victory with 8.1 scoreless innings. 

The Pioneers tallied just five hits in the loss. Zack Perugi recorded the team's only extra base hit with a double. Joey Dice was on base twice, going 1-for-2 with a walk. 

The series concludes on Saturday, Mar. 26, at Pioneers Field when the teams play a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.