POMONA – Ryon Knowles smashed a grand slam that cleared the scoreboard in right center field, and Tim Holdgrafer tossed another complete-game gem, as the No. 16 Cal Poly Pomona baseball team rallied to defeat Cal State San Bernardino, 5-3, in the four-game series opener Friday night at Scolinos Field in Pomona.

The Broncos rise to 11-8 overall and 9-4 in the CCAA. The Coyotes fell to 6-11 (3-9 CCAA).

Knowles got things started early, scoring from first base in the bottom of the first on a double from Nic Hernandez when Coyotes center fielder Carter Kimberly misplayed the ball for the 1-0 CPP lead.
 
CSUSB was able to get to Holdgrafer in the fourth inning on a two-run double, followed by a RBI groundout to make it 3-1 in favor of the visitors. 
 
However, Holdgrafer settled in, retiring 15 of the final 17 batters to secure the complete game, and thanks to the grand slam by Knowles in the bottom of the fifth, a complete-game victory to rise to 5-1 on the mound this season.

Knowles finished the night going 2 for 4 with his four RBI off the grand slam, extending his reached-base streak to 14 games, and Hernandez also went 2 for 4.  Angel Ortiz added a pair of hits as well.

Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino will play a doubleheader Saturday in San Bernardino beginning at 1:00 pm before returning to Scolinos Field in Pomona for the final game of the series Sunday at 12:00 pm.