SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Cal State San Bernardino tallied runs in each of the first four innings and seven of eight frames in all to outlast Cal Poly Pomona, 18-13, in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) baseball action Sunday at Fiscalini Field.

With the loss, CPP falls to 6-7 overall and 1-3 in the CCAA. The result that clinched the series win for Cal State San Bernardino to open league play improves it to 7-7 overall and 3-1 in the conference. The Yotes swept Saturday's doubleheader by scores of 7-1 and 2-1, after the Broncos had taken an 11-5 decision in the series opener on Friday night.

Both teams actually scored in seven separate innings. All 18 starting position players produced at least one run. Eight of nine student-athletes on each side registered at least one hit.

In the first, Ricky Nuñez continued to take a liking to Fiscalini Field by launching his team-best third home run, all coming in this set. The two-run shot went out to left after Ryon Knowles' one-out single.

A leadoff walk helped CSUSB get going in the home half. Brandon Galindo moved to second on a groundout and scored on Jake Borst's single. The Yotes then did most of their damage with two away, as another single and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases ahead of a bases-clearing single to left by Garrett Macias. The catcher was credited with just two RBI as the third run came across on an error.

The hosts added a fifth run in the second as Galindo send a first-pitch double down the right field line with one out, and scored on a Deshawn Johnson single to center.

CPP immediately tied the game with a three-run third. With one out, Johnny Pappas drew a four-pitch walk and after Knowles' single, scored on an opposite-field single to right by Nuñez. With two gone, Cesar Lopez also went to the opposite field, ripping a two-run double to left.

The Yotes surged right back ahead in the home half, once again using the long ball, as Macias' one-out infield single preceded Riley Parker's second home run of the weekend.

Johnson's third blast of the series and fourth on the year, on the second pitch of the home fourth, triggered a pitching change.

Cal Poly Pomona answered that run in the fifth. Knowles and Nuñez each singled to begin the frame and advanced on a right-sided groundout. Cesar Lopez's RBI groundout sent Knowles home for 8-6.

The Broncos then used the long ball themselves to grab their first lead of the day in the sixth. Tyler Chaffee was plunked as the leadoff batter and true freshman AJ Nimeh singled to left, before junior college transfer Casey Slattery picked a great time for his first home run in the green and gold, pulling a three-run shot over the wall in right to give CPP a 9-8 edge and force CSUSB into its second pitching change.

That lead was short-lived, as the hosts duplicated that three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases full and one gone, a sacrifice fly and two-run Kyle Csakan double put the Yotes back in front, 11-9.

Though CPP used three walks and an error to pull a run back in the seventh, CSUSB really broke things open by sending 11 men to the plate and scoring six times in the home half, all with two outs. Csakan hit a two-run blast, his third in as many games and fifth on the season.

Down 18-13, CPP brought the tying run into the on-deck circle as it loaded the bases with one away, but could only muster a fielder's choice RBI groundout before another grounder ended the contest.

Nuñez finished 4-for-6 with a home run, three runs and three RBI. Slattery wound up 2-for-3 with two walks, a home run, two runs, and a season-high four RBI. Knowles was 3-for-5 with three runs. Cesar Lopez went 1-for-5 with a walk, double, and season-high three RBI.

Sophomore right-hander Noel Soto went three-plus innings and allowed eight runs, seven of them earned, on nine hits and one walk. He struck out two. In relief, Eric Romo (0-1) struck out a pair of Yotes to get through the fourth despite walking his second batter, before working a perfect fifth. The junior right-hander threw 3.2 innings, with eight runs against him, seven earned, on four hits and six walks. Romo fanned five.

Nate Mendoza gave up five runs on five hits and a walk over 3.0 frames, striking out one. The junior right-hander posted a 1-2-3 second. Jackson Gilmore (1-0) picked up the winning decision.

CSUSB homered in all four games to the tune of nine total. The Yotes have now gone deep in eight consecutive contests, and lead the CCAA with 21 home runs.

Cal Poly Pomona will welcome in rival Chico State in to Scolinos Field for its first CCAA home series next Friday through Sunday, March 4-6. Friday's primetime affair is set for a 5 p.m. start.

All CCAA baseball contests throughout this 2022 season are streaming live online via the CCAA Network at www.ccaanetwork.com. Fans may also download the CCAA Network app on your iOS or Android smartphone, tablet, or through web streaming devices such as Amazon Fire, Roku or Apple TV. The CCAA Network has moved to a subscription-based model at just $9.95 per month. Subscribers have access to all CCAA broadcasts, both live and on-demand.

Bronco Bits: Cal Poly Pomona is 326-207 (.612) overall and 227-151 (.601) in CCAA play under 12th-year head coach Randy Betten ... CPP lost a series to begin the CCAA slate for the first time since Betten's first season in charge in 2011, when they dropped a home series to Chico State, 3-1 ... Over the nine years in between, the Broncos won six sets and split three others for league starters ... Noel Soto made his third appearance and second mound start ... AJ Nimeh started in center field for the first time after a pair of starts previously in right and one as the designated hitter ... Eric Romo's innings, hits, runs, earned runs, walks and strikeouts were all highs for his CPP career ... The runs were the first Romo has allowed this year after 4.2 scoreless frames ... CPP hit multiple home runs in a game for the first time in 2022 ... Six more walks increased the Broncos' CCAA-leading total to 90 ... CPP leads, 81-72, in this series that goes back to 1992 ... The Broncos are 29-17 against CSUSB under Betten (13-11 in San Bernardino).