#5 UC SAN DIEGO (31-10, 26-10 CCAA) at CAL STATE EAST BAY (22-24, 19-21 CCAA)
Thursday, May 2 – 3:00 p.m.
Friday, May 3 – 12:00 p.m. (DH)
Saturday, May 4 – 12:00 p.m. * Senior Day*
Hayward, Calif., - Pioneer Baseball Field
 
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HAYWARD, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay baseball team will host their final series of the season with a four-game home stand against No. 5 UC San Diego at Pioneer Baseball Field.
 
After winning seven of their last eight games, East Bay is still in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) postseason race with a overall record of 22-24 with a 19-21 showing in league action.
 
The Pioneers will honor their 12 seniors from the 2019 class before Sunday's series finale: Kyosuke Ushimaru, Dakota Conners, Nicholas Enrico, Joey Dice, Steve Robinson, Adam Hollar, Matt Cantelme, Jacob Nelson, Jordan Milligan, Paul Bryniarski, and Michael Espino.
 
WEEK IN REVIEW
The Pioneers captured a 3-1 road series victory over Cal State L.A. last week. 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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
The opening game of the afternoon saw CSUEB hit a combined three home runs. All three homers were crucial to the Pios comeback victory.
 
After the Golden Eagles added a run of their own in the bottom of the second to cut the lead to 2-1, the Pioneers used the first of their three home runs to extend their lead. Ryan McSwain nailed a solo shot over the left center field wall to put CSUEB in front 3-1. McSwain's next home run of the afternoon came in the was a two run blast in left center field as the Pioneers claimed a 5-1 lead. Ryan McSwain finished with three hits, including two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored.
 
Dylan Dudley (W, 4-2) (Newman, Calif.) got the start and tossed the first eight innings for the Pioneers racking up a season-best six strikeouts with only three walks.
 
Mark Woinarowicz (S, 8) (Yorba Linda, Calif.) closed the game on the mound for East Bay as he recorded two punch outs in the final inning to help secure the win for the Pioneers.
 
In the doubleheader finale, East Bay scored in bunches through second, third and fourth innings with 11 total runs scored. The Golden Eagles did battle back with seven runs of their own through the six innings. But the Pioneers were able to put the game away in the final inning with a four score inning in the seventh.
 
Brian Martinez (W, 7-2) has yet another efficient outing on the mound as he recorded in league-leading sixth complete game of the season. Martinez added three strikeouts to improve is season total to 45, which lead the ball club.
 
Senior Dakota Conners (Manteca, Calif.) paced the Pioneers with two hits, including a double, with three runs scored and three RBI. Fellow senior Steve Robinson (Yuba City, Calif.) finished with two hits, two runs scored and two RBI.
 
Adam Hollar was also productive with compiled three RBIs, to go along with two runs, a hit and a stolen base. Kyosuke Ushimaru (Tokyo, Japan) led East Bay with two stolen base as he also collected two RBI and scored a run.
 
Robert Lujan chipped in a double, two RBI and scored a run for CSUEB. Ryan Thomasy scored twice and added a hit while Ryan McSwain tallied two hits. Paul Bryniarski (Fountain Hills, Ariz.) logged a hit and picked up an RBI and Omar Sanchez also notched a hit and an RBI while also scoring a run. Matt Cantelme (Fair Oaks, Calif.) also scored a run.
 
VETERAN SLUGGERS
The Pioneers are batting .282 with a .362 on-base percentage as a team through 46 games, both of which rank seventh and eighth in the CCAA. East Bay senior Kysosuke Ushimaru (.339) leads the Pioneers with 56 hits and a team best 43 RBIs to go along with three home runs and 24 runs scored. Fellow senior Steve Robinson (.338) is leading CSUEB with a .503 slugging percentage to go along with 51 hits, a team-best 15 doubles, good for fourth in the conference with 37 RBI and 30 runs scored. Adam Hollar (.342) is tied second on the team with 54 hits, to go along with 23 RBIs and 30 runs scored. Junior Ryan McSwain is fourth on the Pioneers with a .304 batting average and third with a .458 slugging percentage, 51 hits, 40 runs scored, a team-leading four home runs and 77 total bases.
 
THIEVING WAYS
East Bay leads all CCAA teams with 56 stolen bases in 83 attempts. Individually, Kyosuke Ushimaru (10 SB), Ryan McSwain (8 SB), Robert Lujan (7 SB) and Adam Hollar (7 SB) All lead the Pioneers in stolen bases.
 
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE THAT?
CSUEB has a 5.69 team ERA thus far this season. Sophomore Mark Woinarowicz has a 1.67 ERA in 19 appearances. He is holding batters to a .262 batting average and has converted on eight of nine of his save opportunities. Starter Brian Martinez (4.46 ERA) leads the Pioneers with 45 strikeouts on the season and leads the CCAA with six complete games. Newcomer Dylan Dudley (3.75 ERA) has all been effective on the mound with 4-2 record, including a shutout and 33 strikeouts through 12 appearances.
 
SCOUTING #5 UC SAN DIEGO
The UC San Diego Tritons enter their matchup against East Bay with the top seed in the conference standings with a 31-10 overall mark on the season with a 26-10 record in league play. The Tritons defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills 3-1 in their home series last week. Shay Whitcomb lead UCSD with 56 hits, including 22 doubles, to go along with seven home runs, 31 RBIs, with a .346 batting average and a .623 slugging percentage. Blake Baumgartner is adding 46 hits, eight homers, 38 RBIs and 39 runs scored.