LOS ANGELES, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay baseball team opened their California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) road series against Cal State L.A. with a 9-7 victory at Reeder Field, Friday evening, April 26.
 
With the win, East Bay improves to 20-23 overall on the season with a 17-20 mark in conference play. CSUEB has now won five consecutive games which is their longest win streak on the season.
 
The Pioneers wasted no times putting runs on the scoreboard as they tallied three runs in the opening inning of the series. After seniors Dakota Conners (Manteca, Calif.) and Steve Robinson (Yuba City, Calif.) were walked to begin the ballgame and with one out on the board, fellow senior Kyosuke Ushimaru (Tokyo, Calif.) belted a two-run triple down the right field line to put the Pios ahead 2-0. Ushimaru would score on the next at bat as CSUEB took a 3-0 advantage.
 
The Golden Eagles would add one run in the bottom of the first inning to close the Pioneer lead to 3-1. Blake Corsentino (Ventura, Calif.) got the start on the mound for East Bay and tossed the first five innings on the game. He finished with two strikeouts and four earned runs given up.
 
In the third inning, Ryan McSwain (Redwood City, Calif.) singled to right center field for his first hit on the outing. Then Ushimaru smacked a double to left center field to bring home McSwain and give East Bay a 4-1 lead. But CSULA responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to knot the ballgame at 4-4.
 
The game would not remain tied for long as the Pioneers, as Adam Hollar (Livermore, Calif.) was walked to start the inning and Omar Sanchez (Winton, Calif.) singled to right center field. In the next at bat, Matt Cantelme (Fair Oaks, Calif.) reached on a fielder's choice bunt to load the bases. Then Jacob Eder (Prescott, Ariz.) forced a bases loaded walk to bring home Hollar for a run. Dakota Conners grounded into a double play in the next at bat but Sanchez was still able to cross home plate to give Cal State East Bay a 6-4 lead.
 
Cal State L.A. would add two more runs through the next to innings to tie the game at 6-6. Through the next three innings, Ethan Brodsky (W, 1-3) (Mission Viejo, Calif.) took the mound for the Pioneers and did not give up any runs. Brodsky only allowed four hits while recorded one strikeout.
 
In the final inning of the game, with the score still knotted at 6-6 the Pioneers once against against used their late game prowess to notch the road victory. Ryan McSwain was walked to get the Pios first runner on base and then he advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Then Kyosuke Ushimaru, as he had done all game, doubled to bring home McSwain and give the Pioneers a lead. Robert Lujan (Reno, Nev.) was walked in the next at bat and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Omar Sanchez delivered the final offensive blow the for East Bay with a two-run single to center field to put the Pios ahead 9-6.
 
The Golden Eagles would add one final run in the bottom of the ninth, but ultimately fall in their home opening. Mark Woinarowicz (S, 7) (Yorba Linda, Calif.) took the mound in the final inning for CSUEB and notched one punch out and only one earned run given up.
 
Kyosuke Ushimaru turned in a huge performance with three hits, including two doubles and a triple, four RBIs and two runs scored. Omar Sanchez also added three hits with two RBIs and a runs scored. Dakota Conners, Ryan McSwain, Robert Lujan, and Adam Hollar all finished with one hit each. Steve Robinson tallied one run scored.
 
The Pioneers and Golden Eagles will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 27 with the first game slated for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.