CARSON, Calif.-- A huge bases-clearing double by
Troy Resch in the eighth inning scored three runs and gave the Pioneers a 7-5 lead over Cal State Dominguez Hills Sunday they wouldn't relinquish in the two-run CCAA victory for the Pioneers.
The win gives the Pioneers a 2-1 series victory over the Toros and improves the Pioneers conference record to 7-10 and 16-12 overall. The Toros dropped to 8-12 in the CCAA and 14-16 overall.
With the game tied at one heading to the top of the fifth, the Pioneers came up to bat and hung a crooked-number on the scoreboard by plating three runs.
With
Michael Thomas and Resch on base with two outs,
Chris Porter doubled to center field to score both runners and make it 3-1 Pioneers.
Zack Perugi came up next and brought home Porter with a single to left field and suddenly the Pioneers had a three run cushion.
It wasn't enough of a cushion as the Toros came to bat in the bottom of the fifth and tied the game with three runs of their own.
The Toros would take a 5-4 lead in the sixth and hold that until the thrilling eighth inning for East Bay.
Raymond Jones would single to open the eighth before the next two batters were retired. Toro reliever, Albert Flores, would walk pinch-hitter
Kris Bartlett and hit Thomas with a pitch to load the bases for Resch. Resch didn't miss on a 2-2 pitch and gave the Pioneers the last runs they would need.
Joshua Kubiske pitched the last three innings in relief and shut the door on any thoughts the Toros had of a comeback victory. In the three innings, Kubiske gave up no runs on only one hit and earned the win (2-2).
Jones had a career-high four hits for the Pioneers in five plate appearances with an RBI.
Dakota Conners went 2 for 5 in the victory.
Cal State East Bay starts a busy week Tuesday with makeup games against Chico State. The day will start at 10:00 A.M. with the completion of the suspended game from Friday, March 4 with the Pioneers leading 5-4 starting the bottom of the eighth inning. After the two teams finish the suspended game, they will play two more games to wrap-up the season series for 2016.
