HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay baseball team opened its first home series in conference play by hanging on for a 5-4 win over Cal State San Bernardino Friday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
 
The Pioneers out-hit the Coyotes 9-7 for the game, but they did all their scoring in one inning with the help of three CSUSB defensive errors.
 
Right-hander Dylan Dudley started on the mound for the Pioneers and labored through 2.2 innings, but escaped a couple jams. He gave up one run and one hit before Kyle Basch took over in the top of the third. The Coyotes scored on a solo home run in the fourth to make it 2-0, but that was all they managed against Basch, who wound up earning his first victory.
 
The bottom of the fifth was the game-winning inning for the Pioneers. They loaded the bases with no outs thanks to an error, a single by Ryan Thomasy, and a walk to Joey Dice. Ryan McSwain then reached on an infield error, giving the Pioneers their first run of the game. The next batter was Steve Robinson, who chopped another grounder. The Coyotes tried to get the force out at home, but an overthrow allowed two runs to score. Kyosuke Ushimaru finished off the rally with an opposite-field single, scoring Robinson and McSwain to the Pioneers a 5-2 lead.
 
In the top of the 6th, the Coyotes loaded the bases with no outs. Mike Cummins turned to Ransome Alexander in relief, and the junior was able to able to get a pop up and then a ground ball double play to keep San Bernardino from scoring. The Coyotes threatened again the following inning, and this time they cashed in, scoring two runs on a wild pitch and a passed ball. But Alexander was able to escape with a one-run lead intact.
 
Mark Woinarowicz was next out of the bullpen, and the sophomore worked a perfect eighth inning. San Bernardino attempted one more rally in the ninth, starting with a single to center to get a runner on the bases. The next batter sacrificed bunted to move the tying run to second. Woinarowicz then recorded a huge strikeout, but the runner was able to swipe third in the process. It came down to the last hitter, and Woinarowicz was able to get a ground ball to third, which Adam Hollar took care of to seal the victory.
 
Hollar and Omar Sanchez both finished 2-for-4 for the Pioneers, and Joey Dice reached base twice as well on a hit and a walk.
 
The four-game series will continue Saturday at Pioneer Field with a doubleheader starting at 11 am.