POMONA, Calif. – A stellar pitching performance from Cal Poly Pomona stars
Ryan Olson and
Max Bethell combined with 15 hits gave the No. 10 Broncos an 8-2 victory over Cal State San Bernardino on Friday night.
Olson started the contest for the Green and Gold and ultimately earned the win, marking his second of the season and his 14th as a Bronco. With CPP advancing to 4-1 on the season, the Broncos' starter maintained his perfect tally on the bump.
Through five innings pitched, the junior allowed just three hits and one unearned run to score. His showing on the mound included eight strikeouts and three walks through 20 batters faced.
Closing out the final four innings for CPP, earning the save, and having a stellar night of his own was Bethell. The senior and team captain allowed just a single hit in the final innings and one unearned run scored. His showing included an incredible 11 strikeouts and just a single walk allowed. He closed out the contest with eight-consecutive strikeouts to shut down the Coyote offense.
Of course with stellar pitching, a bit of offense helps to ensure the win. The hometown Broncos displayed more than a bit however as they racked up 15 hits to score eight runs in the ballgame.
Every member of the CPP starting lineup had at least one hit in the contest. The visitors managed to score twice in the game, once on a passed ball in the third inning, and once with an unfortunate CPP error in the seventh.
Jared James led the Green and Gold's run batted in category as the newcomer to CPP secured three of his own after going 2-for-5 in the game. Leadoff man
Chris Stratton went 2-for-3 in the contest and reached base safely four times, he also tallied a pair of runs scored.
Nicholas Bruno went 3-for-4 in the contest.
Nic Hernandez added a pair of RBIs and a run scored with his 2-for-3 showing, and
Ryan Webberley,
Michael Zidek,
Caleb Romo,
Cody Martin, and
Jacob Bernardy each added a hit.
In the third inning, after the Coyotes scored first, James would send a single up the middle that scored both Stratton from second and Bernardy from third. Later, in the sixth inning, Hernandez sent out his second homerun of the season with Romo on, thus scoring the Broncos' third and fourth runs of the game.
The top half of the seventh saw the Coyotes score again, but CPP swiftly answered back as Webberley singled to center to score Stratton. The very next batter, Zidek, launched a triple to right center to score Webberley and give the Green and Gold the 6-2 lead.
In the eighth inning, CPP would score its final two runs as a single from Martin scored
Matt Reynoso who pinch ran for Bruno at first base, stole second, got to third on a wild throw from the catcher, and then would come around to score from Martin's knock.
The final run of the game was another RBI for James as a single to left field scored Martin and advanced Stratton on the base path.
CPP will return to action on Saturday as they host the University of Texas, Permian Basin at Scolinos Field. The first pitch of the double-header in set for 12 p.m. The second contest will begin approximately 25 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
