POMONA, Calif. – The CPP baseball team split their Saturday doubleheader with the Chico State Wildcats, moving to 6-5 on the season and 2-1 in CCAA play. Having won two games so far in the series, the Broncos have ensured at least a series split against Chico State headed into Sunday.
Game 1: CPP 3, CHICO 5
Rhys Stevens delivered a quality start on the mound in the opening game of the doubleheader, going 7.0 innings while allowing three earned runs on five hits. All three runs came on two outs in the top of the third inning, brought on by three singles to the outfield and an error by the Bronco defense. Outside of that one inning, Stevens threw six scoreless frames in a total of 97 pitches on the afternoon.
Ruben Del Castillo and
AJ Moreno each threw an inning out of the bullpen to finish the game for the Bronco pitching staff. Moreno retired the side in the top of the ninth on 12 pitches, forcing two fly outs and a groundout. The La Verne native has not allowed a run in his last three appearances, while only surrendering two hits in 2.1 innings.
The Bronco bats stalled out against the Wildcats, with
Jack Sanders collecting two of the team's five hits for his fifth multi-hit game of the season. The team was able to plate three runs in the game, but never gained enough momentum to overtake Chico's lead. The first game would conclude with a final score of 5-3, handing the Broncos their first loss at home this season.
Game 2: CPP 10, CHICO 4 (7 innings)
The bats appeared to have woken up in the 40-minute break between games one and two, as the Broncos tied a season-high 13 hits in the nightcap to propel the team to a 10-4 victory and ensure at least a series split.
A massive third inning proved to be the difference maker, seeing six Broncos cross the plate. Trailing 4-1,
Johnny Pappas reached base on a single to third base to open up the inning.
Marco Malerba,
Jacob Lopez, and
Jack Sanders then hit back-to-back-to-back doubles to left field to quickly bring the game within one run. The pivotal moment came on a
Darius Price grounder to the Chico State third baseman, who subsequently threw the ball to the backstop in an attempt to get the runner at home plate, allowing two runs to score. The Broncos would make that mistake hurt, adding two additional runs on an
AJ Nimeh RBI single to center field and a passed ball – giving CPP a 7-4 advantage by the end of the inning.
Sanders added to the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on an opposite field home run down the right field line, a sight rarely seen at Scolinos Field from a right handed hitter. The blast was his third of the season as he now ranks third in the CCAA in home runs, while also ranking Top 10 in slugging percentage, OPS, and doubles.
CPP would score their final two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Malerba single through the right side and a
Nick Lugo sacrifice fly to left field, bringing the score to 10-4.
Edrian Rangel started on the mound, allowing two earned runs while striking out three and walking one. Since the game was seven innings, his 4.1 innings pitched was good enough to qualify for the win. Senior
Drew Atherton and freshman
Anthony Vasquez were automatic out of the pen, combining for 2.2 innings pitched and just one hit allowed with no free passes. Both pitchers sport a 0.00 ERA in their first two outings of the season.
Up Next
The Broncos will close out the series tomorrow, February 25
th, at 11:00 AM.
Bronco Bits
- The Broncos are now 45-69 (.395) all-time against the Wildcats, including 5-5 in their past 10 games.
- Randy Betten now owns a 390-247 (.612) record as head coach of the Broncos.
- The last time the Broncos were 6-5 through their first 11 games to start the season was 2022, and before that was the 2009 season.
- The Broncos are now 4-1 at home this season, improving their all-time record at Scolinos Field to 660-436-8 (.601) since 1980.
