POMONA, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay baseball team pulled off a late-inning rally on Sunday to secure a crucial 5-3 road victory over Cal Poly Pomona in the finale of the three-game California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series between the two squads.

The Pioneers (21-12, 12-9) salvaged the final game of the series to keep pace in a tight race in the CCAA North Division after the defending West Region champion Broncos (18-17, 14-9 CCAA) swept both ends of Saturday's doubleheader.

Sunday's contests was an extremely well-pitched affair in the early going. After a two-out single gave CPP a 1-0 lead in the first, Pioneer starter Jacob Call settled down and hung four straight zeroes on the scoreboard. Meanwhile, the East Bay offense managed just one hit off Henry Omana through the first six innings.

In the bottom of the sixth, a sacrifice fly doubled the Broncos' lead to 2-0. But that's when the momentum flipped, as the Pioneers refused to roll over and accept a three-game sweep. 

Jackson Foss doubled to lead off the seventh, moved up on a ground out by Troy Resch, and scored on another ground out by Dallas Dey. Then with two outs, Joey Dice ripped a double into the left-center gap, and Matt Cantelme singled up the middle. After generating virtually no offense the whole afternoon, the Pioneers had suddenly tied the game.

East Bay grabbed the lead the following inning, as Marcus Wise led off with a single and Kris Bartlett drew a walk. Foss then laced another double down the third base line, bringing Wise home to give CSUEB its first lead.

In the top of the ninth, the Pioneers had two on with two out after a single by Cantelme and an infield error. Bartlett made the Broncos pay by yanking a single down the right field line to plate both insurance runs. 

Call pitching into the sixth innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out three. Andrew Fernandez recorded the final 12 outs to earn his third victory. The senior gave up a run in the ninth after East Bay had gone up 5-2, but he was able to close out the victory without much drama. 

Foss, Cantelme, and Colt Parshall all finished with two hits for the Pioneers, who out-hit CPP 9-8 for the game.

Next week, CSUEB begins a stretch of series against North Division rivals, starting with a huge four-game set on the road at Sonoma State next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.