POMONA, Calif. - Cal Poly Pomona erased an early 7-0 deficit with a pair of explosive innings to defeat Cal State Dominguez Hills, 9-7, in the series finale on Sunday. With the win, the Broncos take the series from the Toros and hold their spot atop the CCAA standings with an 11-5 conference record, while also marking the 450^th career win for Head Coach Randy Betten.
 
After the Toros plated four runs in the second and added three more in the third, the Broncos began their impressive comeback effort in the bottom of the fourth. Austin Duarte led off with a solo home run to right field, the first of his collegiate career, to make it 7-1. Two more hits would put runners on, then Bryan Richman drove home CPP's second run with an RBI single to right field.
 
However, it was Sebastain Arguelles that delivered the biggest swing of the game, driving a ball deep into the trees beyond the left field fence for a three-run home run, making the score 7-5 and putting the Broncos right back into the game.  
 
The Broncos carried that momentum into the later innings before breaking the game open in the eighth. Arguelles and Diego Murillo each singled to get the rally started, the latter platting Richman, who had reached on an error, to bring the game within one. Daniel Ruiz then hit a bloop shot into left field for a single, followed by an error from the left fielder to allow Arguelles to come home with the tying run.
 
An intentional walk to Jack Sanders would load the bases, and Duarte would come through with a sacrifice fly to put the Broncos ahead for the first time in the game. A bases loaded walk to Tyler Blade would then bring home the final run of the game, putting CPP ahead 9-7.
 
After starter Matthew Leyva gave up seven runs in the first three innings, Matt Lorenzano shut down the Toros out of the pen. The senior out of West Covina did not allow a run in 6.0 innings in relief, surrendering just three hits while striking out a season-high nine batters and walking just one. In the series, the Bronco pitching staff punched out 40 batters across the four games, as they lead the CCAA in most strikeouts as a team with 248 on the season.
 
Cal Poly Pomona finished the game with 11 hits and capitalized on six walks, overcoming an early seven-run deficit to secure the series victory and give Coach Betten his 450th career win at CPP.
 
 
Up Next
The Broncos will head on the road next weekend for a big series against Cal State Monterey Bay. The Otters have been nationally ranked all season, currently sitting at No. 10 in the national poll. The series will kick off on Thursday, April 2nd, at 3:00 PM. 
 

Bronco Bits

• The Broncos are 139-95 all-time against Cal State Dominguez Hills, including 6-4 in their past 10 games. They are 83-33 at home and 131-89 in conference against the Toros.
• Randy Betten is now 450-311 (.591) as head coach of the Broncos and 319-225 (.586) in CCAA play. Betten is just 11 CCAA wins shy of passing legendary coach John Scolinos for most in program history (329).
• As a program, Cal Poly Pomona is now 1,787-1,596-21 in its 66th season overall, including 960-843-4 in CCAA play.
• The Broncos are tied for first in the CCAA in stolen bases (49) and second in fielding percentage (.976). The team committed just one error in the entire series against CSUDH.
• The pitching staff has issued the fewest walks in the CCAA this season with 105 while also striking out the most batters (248).
• The Broncos entered the weekend with the 7th toughest strength of schedule in the entire country.
• The Broncos hold a two-game lead over four teams all tied for second place in the CCAA standings.