STOCKTON – Cal Poly Pomona baseball has a rich history in the postseason, Friday was no different as the Broncos erased an 11-1 deficit to defeat Cal State Los Angeles 13-11 and avoid elimination in day three of the California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament at Banner Island Ballpark.
THE BASICS:
Final: Cal State Los Angeles 11, Cal Poly Pomona 13
Records: CSULA (28-24), CPP (30-23)
Location: Banner Island Ballpark I Stockton, CA
GAME SUMMARY:
- The Golden Eagles jumped out ahead, scoring five runs in the first inning and three more in the third to take a commanding 8-0 lead over the Broncos.
- After CPP scored a run off a groundout by
Nic Hernandez, CSULA extended their lead,even more, hitting a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to take an 11-1 advantage heading into the sixth.
- CPP dug into the deficit in the seventh as Hernandez earned his second RBI with a base hit to left center while
Patrick Flynn grounded out to third base to score
Drew Cowley.
- The floodgates opened in the eighth as CPP rattled off seven runs off of seventh hits, starting with a leadoff single by
Logan Gopperton. After a single down the left line by
Bryce Graddy,
Jacob Bernardy hit a two-RBI double off the right field wall.
- The hitting streak continued as Cowley got a base hit to left field, eventually scoring off a double by Hernandez to make it 11-7 in favor of the Golden Eagles.
- CPP batted around in the eighth as Gopperton came to the plate, hitting a three-run double to the right field wall to come within one run of tying the game.
- In the ninth,
Brennan McKenzie came in as a pinch hitter, leading off with a single. Also pinch hitting,
Cody Martin entered in only his second plate appearance since Apr. 22, delivering a ball over the right field fence to give the Broncos a 12-11 lead. CPP scored the final run of the game as
Angel Ortiz laid down a bunt to first base as Cowley slid home to beat the tag.
- With only three outs to go,
Darin May finished the game for CPP earning a fly out, a strikeout and a groundout to third base to complete one of the biggest comebacks in tournament history.
KEY PERFORMERS:
-
Ben Mora and
Anthony Mizrahi each pitched one inning without allowing a hit while
Brian Conley and
Peter Beattie combined for a hitless inning in the eighth.
- Beattie took the win for CPP to improve to 2-0 on the year while May earned a save.
- Finishing with three RBIs off of three hits was Hernandez while Gopperton also collected three RBIs on the day.
- Cowley also finished with three hits while Bernardy and Martin both collected two RBIs.
COMING UP NEXT:
The Broncos advance to Championship Saturday where they will take on UC San Diego with first pitch set for noon. If CPP wins that game, they will play one more for the tournament title, either against UCSD again or CSU Monterey Bay, depending on who wins their matchup on Friday night.
