HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay baseball team split it California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division doubleheader against Bay Bridge rival San Francisco State on Saturday, April 22 at Pioneer Baseball Field.
 
The Pioneers captured an opening game 7-4 victory and fell in the doubleheader finale 5-1. With Saturday's split the Gators hold a 2-1 series lead headed into the weekend finale on Sunday.
 
East Bay was much more effective offensively than on Friday afternoon out-hitting SF State 11-8. The Gators got out to a 1-0 lead after two innings of action but the Pioneers quickly took charge of the game. Michael Thomas put CSUEB on the scoreboard first with a double to left field scoring Marcus Wise, who go on with a single to left field to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Michael Thomas finished the game with a double, a run scored and a RBI. Marcus Wise compiled two hits, a run, a RBI and his league leading 24th stolen base.
 
After A Troy Resch walk loaded the bases, Dallas Dey was hit by a pitch to bring home Kris Bartlett who also reached on a hit by pitch. In the next at bat Zack Perugi reached on a fielder's choice RBI scoring Thomas. Joey Dice doubled up the middle to bring home Resch and give the Pioneers a 4-1 lead after three frames of action.
 
Troy Resch tallied a hit and two runs scored, Dallas Dey added a double, a run and a RBI while Zack Perugi had a hit and a RBI in the outing.
 
But it was Joey Dice who turned in the best performance of the day. Dice went a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with two doubles and two RBIs.
 
East Bay would add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth frame with a Marcus Wise RBI single up the middle. Scoring Colt Parshall who singled up the middle to lead off the inning.
 
The Gators would add three runs in the top of the fifth inning to close the Pioneer lead to 5-4.
 
But a Dice ground-rule double that brought home Resch pushed the East Bay advantage to 6-4. Dey scored on a wild pitch to secure the Pioneers 7-4 victory and first win of the series.
 
Nick Sergi got the start on the mound for CSUEB going 4.0 innings and retiring two Gator batters. Alex Vesia (W, 4-4) picked up the win tossing 5.0 innings with a game high three strikeouts, no walks and only two hits given up.
 
In the doubleheader finale the Pioneers were faced tough pitching and stout defense. Dillon Houser (W, 2-6) was working on a no-hitter midway through the fifth inning. During which the Gators built a 5-0 lead.
 
But the Pioneers got their offense going in the fifth frame as Joey Dice singled through the left side followed by a Wyatt Foreman doubled to left center. The Pioneers lone run came off a Matt Cantelme RBI groundout that scored Dice.
 
Michael Thomas, Wyatt Foreman and Dallas Dey all tallied a double and Matt Cantelme chipped in a RBI.
 
Joel Lamont (L, 4-4) picked up the start and racked up two strikeouts through 1.2 innings pitched. But Brandon Acosta entered the game and turned in a stellar outing. He tossed 5.1 innings allowing no runs with three strikeouts and one walked batter.
 
The Pioneers will look to split the weekend series in their finale at Pioneer Baseball Field on Sunday, April 23. The game will begin at 12:00 noon.