BOCA RATON, Fla. — Cal State East Bay competed through multiple momentum swings Saturday afternoon at Lynn Baseball Field, but late power from the host Fighting Knights led to a 12-7 loss. Originally scheduled as a doubleheader, the day was limited to one game due to a combination of a rain delay and darkness. The Pioneers erased deficits twice and tied the game in the fifth inning before Lynn pulled away in the final frames.

Cal State East Bay struck first in the top of the first inning. Dominick Najar led off the game with a single and later stole second base. With two outs, Dylan Unangst lined an RBI single to bring Najar home and give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.

Lynn responded immediately in the bottom of the first. Bryant Zayas hit a one-out solo home run to tie the game, and later in the inning Jason Lashley singled up the middle to drive in another run as the Fighting Knights moved in front 2-1.

The Pioneers evened the score in the top of the second inning. Logan Stelling doubled to lead off the frame and advanced to third on a flyout. A defensive error allowed Stelling to score, tying the game at 2-2.

Cal State East Bay continued to apply pressure in the third. With the bases loaded, William James drew a walk to force in a run and give the Pioneers a 3-2 lead. Ben Johnston then scored on a fielder's choice to extend the advantage to 4-2.

Lynn answered in the bottom of the fourth during its biggest inning of the game. Charlie Devito delivered an RBI single to cut into the deficit before Bryant Zayas launched his second home run of the day, a grand slam, to put the Fighting Knights in front 7-4.

East Bay wasted little time responding in the top of the fifth. After a one-out double by Stelling and James reaching on a fielding error, Micah Cervantes singled to drive in Stelling. Najar followed with an RBI single up the middle to score James, trimming the deficit to one. Moments later, another Lynn error allowed Cervantes to cross the plate, tying the game at 7-7.

The game remained tied into the bottom of the seventh inning, when Lynn regained control. Charlie Devito hit a two-run home run to put the Fighting Knights ahead 9-7, and Lynn added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth to create separation.

Cal State East Bay managed one hit in the top of the ninth inning, but the comeback bid ended there as Lynn secured the 12-7 victory.

Najar finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored, while Cervantes drove in three runs. Dylan Unangst and Logan Stelling each collected two hits for the Pioneers. On the mound, Derek Murphy struck out five batters in 2.2 innings of relief.

Cal State East Bay returns to action Sunday with a morning rematch at Lynn, scheduled for a 9:30 a.m. ET first pitch (6:30 a.m. Pacific) at Lynn Baseball Field. The Pioneers will then travel to West Palm Beach, Florida, for a 2 p.m. ET game (11 a.m. Pacific) against Palm Beach Atlantic at J.M. "Jake" Rubin Park.