POMONA -- Nic Hernandez went 2 for 3 with two doubles, four RBI and a run scored, but the Cal Poly Pomona baseball team fell on the losing end of an 8-5 score against visiting Stanislaus State Friday night to open the four-game series at Scolinos Field in Pomona.

The Broncos fall to 17-22 overall and 15-18 in the CCAA.  The Warriors rise to 23-14 (19-12 CCAA).

It was a back and forth contest for the first two innings with both teams plating a run in each of their first at bat.  Stanislaus then regained the lead with a run in the top of the second to make it 2-1 before Hernandez delivered a go-ahead three-run double to left field in the bottom of the second to give the Broncos a 4-2 lead.

However, after giving up a leadoff single to Cesar Lopez in the bottom of the third, Warriors' starting pitcher Chase Wheatcroft (3-2) retired 15 consecutive batters that got him through to the eighth inning.

Meanwhile, Stanislaus State put up five runs in the fourth inning and another in the fifth to hold an 8-4 lead until the Broncos began to get to Wheatcroft in the eighth.  Hernandez drew a one-out walk, then Ryon Knowles doubled to right field, moving Hernandez to third and effectively chasing Wheatcroft from the game.  Matt Pulos came on in relief and got Lopez to ground out to shortstop, but Hernandez was able to scamper home to make it 8-5.  That was all CPP could muster against the Warriors as Pulos retired four of the next five batters he faced to earn his sixth save of the year.

The Broncos were held to just five hits while the Warriors scattered 16, 11 off of CPP starter Tim Holdgrafer (7-3) in four innings, three off Ben Mora over three innings, and a couple off of Troy Bethell in the final two.

Cal Poly Pomona and Stanislaus State will return to action Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm.