HAYWARD, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay baseball team opened their California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series against No. 15 Monterey Bay with a, 5-1 loss Thursday afternoon, May 3 at Pioneer Field.
 
With the loss, the Pioneers move to 23-24 on the season and 20-21 in conference action. Despite the outcome, CSUEB is still in contention for the annual CCAA Tournament.
 
Although the runs did not favor the Pioneers in the ballgame, East Bay did compile 12 hits to just eight hits from the visiting Otters. But Monterey Bay was able to rally off runs in the second, fourth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings.
 
Senior outfielder Raymond Jones (San Diego, Calif.) paced the Pioneers with three hits, including a double and scored CSUEB's lone run of the outing. Jones has recorded two or more hits in five of the last seven games.
 
A trio of Pioneers logged multi-hit performances during the contest. Adam Hollar (Livermore, Calif.), Dakota Conners (Manteca, Calif.) and Kyosuke Ushimaru (Tokyo, Calif.) all finished the afternoon with two hits.
 
Jacob Eder (Prescott, Ariz.) along with Matt Cantelme (Fair Oaks, Calif.) and Colt Parshall (Oakdale, Calif.) all chipped in one hit apiece. Nolan Jekich (Boise, Idaho) was walked and stole the Pioneers only base of the afternoon.
 
Nick Risucci (L, 2-3) (Las Vegas, Nev.) got the start the mound for Cal State East Bay and fanned two batters while allowing one earned run. Mark Woinarowicz (Yorba Linda, Calif.) finished the second inning getting the Pioneers out of a crucial jam. Senior Alex Vesia (Alpine, Calif.) compiled two strikeouts through his seven innings of action.
 
The Pioneers and Otters will continue their series with a Friday afternoon doubleheader at the Otters Sports Complex in Seaside on May 4 with a noon start. The final games of the series will be held at Pioneer Baseball Field on Saturday, May 5 with a noon first pitch. Saturday will be Senior Day for CSUEB as they will honor their 10 seniors prior to the start of the game.