HAYWARD, Calif. — Cal State East Bay split Friday's doubleheader with Chico State, falling 6-5 in 11 innings in the opener before responding with a 3-2 win in game two at Pioneer Field.
The opener slipped away late.
East Bay controlled much of the game, building a 5-1 lead through eight innings. Early production from Alijah Ramos and Gio Martini helped set the tone, with Martini driving in two runs as the Pioneers created separation.
Chico State flipped the script in the ninth.
The Wildcats strung together hits to score four runs and tie the game at 5-5, forcing extras. After a scoreless 10th, Chico State broke through in the 11th with an RBI single to take the lead.
East Bay threatened in the bottom half but left the tying run on base.
The Pioneers finished with 11 hits in the loss, with Ramos and Dylan Unangst each recording multiple-hit efforts. Micah Cervantes scored twice.
Game two followed a much tighter path.
Chico State struck first, scoring once in each of the first two innings to take a 2-0 lead. East Bay answered immediately with two runs in the bottom of the first to even the game.
The Pioneers took the lead in the sixth.
Dominick Najar came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Marc DiCarlo Jr., giving East Bay a 3-2 advantage.
From there, the pitching staff handled the rest.
Jackson Ellis worked the opening innings before Lincoln Juarez took over and limited Chico State to just one hit over the final five innings to secure the win.
East Bay finished with four hits, with Najar scoring twice to lead the offense.
Cal State East Bay continues its series against Chico State tomorrow.
