SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Cal State East Bay baseball dropped a CCAA series finale on Sunday, 6-3 to Cal State San Bernardino. For the Pioneers, a new program record was set for stolen bases in a season by Essex Brown, Jr.
The Pioneers took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a Manny Garcia single to center field that drove in Brown Jr. and Francisco Pedraza. The Coyotes tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning on a Brandon Galindo single to right center that scored AJ Barraza and Derek Bogh.
The Coyotes took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh on a bases loaded walk that scored Kyle Csakan.
In the top of the eighth inning, Brown Jr. led off with a single, and after reaching base, he set the single season record for stolen bases for Cal State East Bay as he picked up his 30th stolen base of the season. Brown Jr. eventually scored the tying run in the inning to even the game at 3-3.
CSUSB scored a trio of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning – two on a Riley Parker single down the left field line to drive in two runs and one on a Garrett Macias solo home run.
Brown Jr. went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and his record setting stolen base. Brown Jr. broke the previous record of 29 stolen bases in a season, which was achieved in 2006 by Ray Stokes.
By leading the game off with a single, Pedraza is currently on a nine-game hitting streak.
Ethan Brodsky started on the mound for the Pioneers and pitched 7.0 innings with six strikeouts.
Through Sunday's action in the CCAA, Cal State East Bay sits tied for sixth place with Sonoma State with four games remaining for each team. The top six teams in the conference standings qualify for the 2022 CCAA Baseball Tournament.
Cal State East Bay head coach Mike Cummins spoke about the series following Sunday's game. "Pedraza was outstanding, nice having [Essex Brown Jr.] back, said Cummins. "[Ethan Brodsky] gave us a chance to win today with a gutsy performance. Congratulations to [Essex Brown Jr.] for breaking school record for stolen bases in a season."
The Pioneers will return home for the final regular season series of 2022 when they host (RV) Chico State. The series opener takes place this coming Thursday with a first pitch is set for 3 p.m. from Pioneer Baseball Field.
