CHICO, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay baseball team split its doubleheader on the road at Chico State on Sunday to take a 2-1 series lead into Monday's finale. 

The Pioneers (9-12, 6-9 CCAA) held on for a 5-4 victory in the first game, and then the Wildcats (14-9, 10-7 CCAA) bounced back in the afternoon to pick up their first win of the weekend, 8-0.

After Saturday's success, head coach Mike Cummins ran back the same pitching strategy on Sunday, saving his normal starter for the final six innings. Jordan Milligan got the start and pitched a scoreless first inning. Ransome Alexander and Joey Portugal followed in the second and third, allowing one run apiece.

Meanwhile, the Pioneer offense struck first. After hits by Paul Bryniarski and Raymond Jones to open the game, Dallas Dey knocked in both with a two-run single to center. Two innings later, East Bay took advantage of a walk and a hit-by-pitch, with Colt Parshall picking up an RBI with a single up the middle.

Cummins turned to RJ Hanson in the bottom of the fourth inning, and the senior right-hander took CSUEB the rest of the way. The Pioneer bats kept the pressure on, scoring another run in the fifth as Kyosuke Ushimaru and Matt Cantelme traded doubles. Chico got a run back in the bottom of the frame and had two more on base, but Hanson was able to get a double play to preserve the lead.

The following inning, East Bay added a huge run after singles by Dakota Conners and Jones set the table with one out. After a ground out, Chico's pitcher made a throwing error on a pick-off attempt, allowing Conners to come home. 

The Wildcats manufactured a run in the seventh on a walk, a stolen base, and two ground outs, but again Hanson escaped further damage. The Pioneers clung to a narrow 5-4 lead heading into the final two frames, but Hanson was able to record the final six outs without drama to secure the win.

Seven of the nine Pioneer starters had at least one hit in the first game, as CSUEB bested Chico 12-10 in that category. Conners and Jones led the way, each posting a three-hit performance.

It was a different story in game two as the Pioneers were unable to mount any rallies against Wildcat starter Grant Larson, who tossed a four-hit shutout in the shortened seven-inning game. 

Jones and Dey were the only East Bay hitters able to do any damage, each finishing 2-for-3. But it didn't result in any runs, and the Pioneers were also unable to take advantage of four Chico defensive errors. 

Andrew Fernandez got the start and found himself trailing early, as the Wildcats scored once in the second inning and three times in the third. The senior ended up allowing six earned runs in 4.2 innings, with Chico stretching out its lead in the final frames. 

Jacob Nelson pitched one-third of an inning in relief, and then Mario Mazzoni worked the sixth to finish it off, allowing one hit and one run. 

East Bay will look to clinch their first CCAA series victory of the season on Monday when they return to the field at Nettleton Stadium for the finale between the two squads. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.