ATHERTON, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay baseball team improved to 2-0 on the season with a, 9-4 road victory over Menlo College Saturday afternoon at Cartan Baseball Field.
 
The Pioneers used powerful bats and tough hurling from the hill to take the second game of this three series against the Oaks. Both teams had trouble handling the balls the squads combined for eight errors. But the Pioneers responded with great defensive plays across the field late in the game to cancel any changes of a Menlo rally.
 
Ryan McSwain and Francisco Pedraza both hammered opposite field homers for CSUEB. McSwain opened the scoring for East Bay with a two run beam into the trees over left field. He finished 2-3 on the day including a double with three runs scores and three RBI. Pedraza gave East Bay a 5-1 lead with another two run laser over the left field wall in the fifth inning, his first as a Pioneer. He also added two hits and three RBI.
 
Brian Martinez (W, 1-0) got the win on the mound for East Bay, striking out five Menlo batters through four innings of action. The senior showed poise on the hill as he continually forced Menlo base runners stranded.
 
The Pioneers continued to keep aggressive bats throughout the ballgame as five different players notched multi-hit afternoons. AJ Curtis collected the first CSUEB triple of the season and Samuel Esparza showed excellent base running as he scored two runs on two hits. Jake Ruiz also snagged the Pioneers lone stolen base to along with a hit. Senior Robert Lujan tallied two hits and an RBI while Adrian Padilla doubled and scored in the top of the sixth frame. Jordan Macias scored and added one more RBI collection this season bringing his total to three through two games.
 
East Bay's bullpen was tough in their relief. Ryan Robinson recorded his first Pioneer strikeout, finishing with three on the day while keeping the Oaks off home plate. Southpaw Derek Flowers shutout four Menlo batters to close the afternoon for the Pioneers.
 
The Pioneers will wrap up there three-game season series opener against the Oaks, Sunday in Hayward with first pitch at noon.