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Robbie Treto
Delanie Gearing
11
Winner Cal State LA LA 14-12
5
Cal Poly Pomona CPP 8-21
Winner
Cal State LA LA
14-12
11
Final
5
Cal Poly Pomona CPP
8-21
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cal State LA LA 4 0 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 11 12 0
Cal Poly Pomona CPP 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 5 9 0

W: MORENO, AJ (1-3) L: Del Castillo, Ruben (1-4)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Alex Kline, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications

Late Rally Not Enough to Overcome Early Deficit Against Golden Eagles

POMONA, Calif. – A tough early deficit proved too much for Cal Poly Pomona to overcome, as the Broncos fell 11-5 to Cal State LA on Sunday afternoon at Scolinos Field. Despite some late offensive rhythm, CPP couldn't fully recover from a big third inning by the Golden Eagles. With the loss, the Broncos fall to 8-21 on the season and 5-15 in CCAA play.
 
Cal State LA wasted no time getting on the board, plating four runs in the top of the first. After an RBI single from Cesar Chavez, Brayan Nunez delivered a three-run double to right-center, putting the Broncos in an early hole. CPP responded in the bottom half when Marco Malerba came around to score on a Johnny Pappas RBI double, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple to end the inning. It was Pappas' ninth double of the season, ranking first on the team and third in the CCAA this season.
 
The game took a decisive turn in the top of the third when the Golden Eagles erupted for six more runs, including a two-run double and a two-run homer. The explosive inning stretched the deficit to 10-1, putting the Broncos in a tough spot.
 
Despite the early struggles, Cal Poly Pomona continued to fight. In the fifth, Christian Gomez doubled home Dominic Porter to cut the lead to 10-2. The Broncos then showed patience in the seventh, capitalizing on four free passes. Anthony Gibbons brought home a run with a sacrifice fly, and Robbie Treto worked a bases-loaded walk to make it 11-4. In the eighth, Malerba singled up the middle to score Gomez, but that would be the final run for CPP.
 
Starting pitcher Ruben Del Castillo (1-4) took the loss, allowing 10 earned runs on 10 hits over 5.1 innings while striking out a season-high eight batters. Reliever Anthony Vasquez helped settle things down out of the pen, tossing 3.2 innings and allowing just one run while striking out four. The duo's 12 combined strikeouts is the most for CPP in a game this season.
 
Offensively, the Broncos showed flashes, collecting nine hits and drawing nine walks, but they struggled to capitalize on opportunities, leaving 14 runners on base. Gomez had a strong day at the plate, collecting a double, two walks, and two runs scored. Pappas, Malerba, Gibbons, and Treto each contributed an RBI in the effort.
 
 
Up Next
The Broncos look to rebound from the sweep with a series at Cal State San Marcos next weekend. First pitch of game one is set for Friday, March 28th, at 3:00 PM.
 
 
Bronco Bits
  • The Broncos are now 124-117 all-time against Cal State LA, including 5-5 in their past 10 games.
  • Randy Betten is now 424-287 (.597) as head coach of the Broncos and 301-207 (.594) in CCAA play.
  • Betten remains 23 CCAA wins away from tying John Scolinos (324) for the most in program history.
  • The Broncos have the toughest strength of schedule in all of NCAA Division II, with their opponents going 311-136 (.696) entering the weekend.
  • Record Watch – Johnny Pappas is just five runs away from tying the all-time program record. He currently has 163 while Tom Weeks (1984-87) holds the program record at 168.