SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The Broncos took both games of the doubleheader on Saturday, defeating Cal State San Bernardino by scores of 14-6 and 8-6 to improve to 11-6 to start the season.
Game 1: CPP 14, CSUSB 6
Cal Poly Pomona put pressure on Cal State San Bernardino in the first inning as
Daniel Ruiz singled and stole second, followed by
Jack Sanders doing the exact same sequence. An
Austin Duarte walk would load the bases, followed by
Tyler Blade pushing across the first run of the game. Sanders then stole home to increase the lead to 2-0. CSUSB responded in the second with a solo home run and RBI single to even the game at 2-2.
Sanders immediately responded with a home run down the left field line, his sixth of the season. The big breakout came in the fifth inning. After Sanders' double, Duarte drove him in with a single and then
Sebastian Arguelles added an RBI single to push the lead to 5-2. A wild pitch allowed another run, and then
Evan Nahra crushed a three-run home run to left center, his first as a Bronco, driving in
Bryan Richman and Arguelles and making it 9-2.
Pomona extended the lead in the sixth with more timely hitting. Ruiz scored on a wild pitch, then
Julian Angulo's two-run single and Richman's sacrifice fly pushed the Broncos' advantage to 13-2. Cal State San Bernardino chipped away with a solo homer and added three more in the eighth, but the outcome was already decided. Nahra capped the scoring with a solo shot in the ninth, his second of the game, for a 14-6 final.
On the mound,
Matthew Leyva earned the win with six strong innings, allowing three earned runs while striking out four on 88 pitches.
Jameson Ferraro secured his first save as a Bronco to close out the win.
Game 2: CPP 8, CSUSB 6
The Broncos overcame a late rally by Cal State San Bernardino to secure both an 8-6 win and the series in the nightcap of the doubleheader.
CPP jumped in front early thanks to a big first inning.
Julian Angulo ignited the offense with a two-run single, scoring Sanders and Richman, and later added another two RBIs with a home run in the second to make it 6-3. Angulo finished with a team-high four RBI and a 4-for-4 performance at the plate, while
Austin Duarte collected three hits and scored twice.
Tyler Blade provided the late punch, belting a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh that brought home Angulo and sealed the Broncos' lead.
Anthony Vasquez threw 4.0 innings in his start, striking out four while walking one and allowing three runs to come across.
Geo Hernandez and
Colt Tucker made appearances out of the pen, followed by
Anthony Cosme with his season debut, throwing 2.0 innings and earning the win.
Up Next
The Broncos will look for a series sweep tomorrow, March 8
th, at 1:00 PM at Fiscalini Field.
Bronco Bits
- The Broncos are 90-81 all-time against Cal State San Bernardino, including 5-5 in their past 10 games. They are 40-45 on the road and 86-73 in conference against the Coyotes.
- Randy Betten is now 442-306 (.591) as head coach of the Broncos.
- As a program, Cal Poly Pomona is now 1,779-1,591-21 in its 66th season overall, including 952-838-4 in CCAA play.
- The last time the team was 11-6 to start the season was 2020.
- The Broncos rank second in the CCAA in fielding percentage (.972).
