AZUSA, Calif. – Outfielder
Jack Sanders had the greatest single-game performance in school history in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, tying four single-game records on one swing. The Broncos took both games of the twin bill against Azusa Pacific by scores of 21-13 and 9-5, completing the series sweep over the Cougars and starting off the 2026 season with a perfect 3-0 record. CPP joins Cal State San Marcos and Stanislaus State as the only undefeated schools in the CCAA through opening weekend.
Game 1: CPP 21, APU 13
Jack Sanders was the story of the game, tying four school records for the most home runs (3), hits (6), runs scored (6), and RBI (9) in a single game in program history. He is just the fourth player in school history, and first since 2002, to record six hits, and the first player since 1985 to score six runs in a game – both of which also tie a CCAA single-game record. Sanders tied Larry Reed (1963) for most RBI in a game with nine, while also becoming the first player since current Associate Head Coach
Jenzen Torres to homer three times in a game, which Torres famously did back in the final series of the 2012 season to break the all-time home run record.
"At no point did I realize I was close to any records," said Sanders. "I was just playing the game hard. I only found out when Rachel [CPP Athletic Trainer] told me. I had no idea what I just did after I hit the homer in the ninth."
Sanders finished the game by going an incredible 6-for-7 at the plate, with three home runs (including a grand slam), a double, two singles, six runs scored, nine runs batted in, and a stolen base in what is unequivocally the most complete performance by anyone to ever wear a Bronco uniform. In the top of the ninth inning, Sanders was one stat short of all four records. Then on an 0-1 count in his final at-bat of the game, he drilled a ball deep to left center field off the netting for a solo home run, tying the school record for all four marks on one swing.
When reflecting on what it means to have his name etched in the record books along the program's all-time greats, Sanders said, "This definitely means a lot to me. Cal Poly Pomona has been hands down my favorite place to play, from the coaching staff to the players, the field, and everything else around this school, there's no place that I would rather play. Knowing that I've done something like this to have my name remembered at this school means so much."
Sanders, who is coming off an injury-shortened 2025 season where he only appeared in four games, is excited to be back on the field.
"It definitely feels great and is a breath of fresh air," added the redshirt senior outfielder. "All of the work in the fall was about rehab and getting back to where I want to be when season came around. It was a mental battle for sure, as I wanted to go 100% out of the gate. But our coaches helped me stay grounded and realize I needed time to build all my strength back up, and it is ok to not be immediately back to where I left off, but to just keep pushing and grinding to get better every day."
The Broncos as a team exploded offensively in the 21-13 win over Azusa Pacific. CPP put early pressure on the Cougars, plating five runs in the first two innings and breaking the game open with an eight-run outburst in the fourth inning.
Julian Angulo provided a spark with a multi-hit performance and hit his first home run of the season in the top of the first, while four consecutive RBI hits from
Tyler Garcia,
Sebastian Arguelles,
Dominic Porter, and
Diego Murillo contributed to the big fourth inning rally. Catcher
Evan Nahra's presence on the bases consistently set up scoring opportunities, finishing the game with four walks and three runs scored.
In total, the Broncos scored 21 runs on 19 hits with seven extra base hits, marking their most runs scored in a game since plating 21 at Cal State San Bernardino on May 3, 2024.
On the mound, starter
Matt Lorenzano punched eight tickets in 4.2 innings, including striking out the side in his first inning as a Bronco. The West Covina native would end up allowing six runs on seven hits while throwing 69 pitches.
Matthew Leyva made his CPP debut in the middle innings, going 2.1 innings out of the pen with two strikeouts and allowing three more earned runs to score. Redshirt junior
Geo Hernandez picked up the win, the first of his CPP career, facing nine batters over the final two innings.
"Coming off of the year we had last year, a sweep feels like a step in the right direction," added Sanders. "We all have been putting in countless hours of work on and off the field, and it's amazing to see what we can do together."
Game 2: CPP 9, APU 5
As if game one's performance wasn't impressive enough, Sanders immediately led off game two with yet another home run, his fourth of the day, to get the Broncos out to an early 1-0 lead.
Arturo Rodriguez added on in the top of the fourth, doubling to right center for his first hit as a Bronco to put CPP up 2-0.
Redshirt freshman centerfielder
Tyler Blade helped fuel the offense, leading the team with three hits in his collegiate debut, including a triple and a ninth-inning two-run home run, while scoring three times and driving in two. Fellow freshman
Ashton Romero provided a key two-run blast to right center in the fifth inning that helped CPP momentarily recapture the lead, a memorable first hit of his collegiate career. With the game tied 5-5 in the top of the eighth,
Sebastian Casillas doubled to give the Broncos their final lead of the day.
On the mound, redshirt senior
Andrew Dusablon picked up the win with 2.2 scoreless innings in relief, allowing just two hits and striking out three. Starting pitcher
Anthony Vasquez punched out a career-high eight batters across 4.0 innings, allowing three runs to score on three hits. Freshman
Rex Jarcy made his collegiate debut out of the pen, going 1.1 innings with two runs scoring on two hits and striking out one.
Sean Suriyaniel closed the game with a scoreless ninth, striking out two of the three batters he faced. The Bronco staff finished with 14 strikeouts in the game, their most since striking out 18 against Colorado School of Mines on February 10, 2023.
With both wins, the Broncos start the 2026 campaign with a 3-0 record and are one of just three teams in the CCAA and west region to have not lost on opening weekend.
Up Next
The Broncos will host No. 7 ranked Colorado Mesa in a four game series next weekend at Scolinos Field. CPP is 7-3 all-time against CMU since their first meeting in 1993.
Bronco Bits
- The Broncos are 19-23-1 all-time against Azusa Pacific, including 6-4 in their past 10 games. Their three straight wins against the Cougars is also tied for their longest winning streak against the nearby rivals.
- Randy Betten is now 434-300 (.591) as head coach of the Broncos.
- This is the first time the Broncos have ever swept Azusa Pacific in a season series.
- As a program, Cal Poly Pomona is now 1,771-1,585-21 in its 66th season overall, including 668-908-6 (.424) in road games.
- The team's 21 runs scored on Saturday is tied for the third-most in a game under Betten. It had been done twice before: against Azusa Pacific at home in 2013, and at Cal State San Bernardino in 2024.
- Freshmen Tyler Blade and Ashton Romero both homered in their first collegiate games.
- The CPP pitching staff has registered double-digit strikeouts in all three games so far this season.
