HAYWARD, Calif. — Cal State East Bay dropped the series opener to Chico State, 17-8, on Thursday afternoon at Pioneer Field.

The game shifted in the third inning.

After two scoreless frames, Chico State broke through with a seven-run third, stringing together hits and capitalizing on opportunities to take control early. The Wildcats added four more in the fifth to extend the lead to double digits.

East Bay showed life in the middle innings.

Gio Martini put the Pioneers on the board with a solo home run in the fifth, and the offense added two more runs in the inning behind RBI hits from Marc DiCarlo Jr. and Alijah Ramos to cut into the deficit.

Chico State continued to apply pressure late, scoring once in the seventh and breaking the game open with five runs in the eighth.

The Pioneers mounted a late push in the ninth, scoring five runs on five hits. Vincent Lencioni delivered a two-run double, while DiCarlo Jr., William James and Nick Thomson each drove in runs during the rally.

East Bay finished with 12 hits, with DiCarlo Jr. leading the way with two RBIs. Ramos and Lencioni also contributed multiple-hit efforts.

Cal State East Bay continues the series Friday with a doubleheader against Chico State at Pioneer Field.