SEASIDE, Calif. – The Broncos split their doubleheader with Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday afternoon, moving to 20-13 on the season while remaining in first place in the CCAA standings with a 12-7 conference record.
Game 1: CPP 4, CSUMB 0
Junior
Anthony Vasquez delivered one of the Broncos' most complete pitching performances of the season, tossing a nine-inning complete game shutout while allowing just three hits and no walks against a nationally-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay offense. The right-hander kept the Otters off balance all afternoon, striking out four while inducing 16 ground outs and facing just 31 batters, just four above the minimum.
After allowing a hit to the lead off man in the first, Vasquez retired the next 23 consecutive batters, before surrendering his second hit with two outs in the eighth. The outing marked the first nine-inning complete game shut out by a Bronco starting pitcher since Noel Soto blanked San Francisco State back on
April 9th, 2022.
After five scoreless innings to begin the game, the Broncos broke through in the sixth. A single by
Sebastian Arguelles put a runner on, and another hit by
Daniel Ruiz followed by an error from Monterey Bay would plate the first run of the game.
Jack Sanders made it hurt, immediately following with a triple down the right field line to put CPP up 2-0.
The Broncos added crucial insurance in the eighth inning, coordinating a double-steal that allowed Ruiz to score.
Tyler Blade followed with a single to right center, plating the final run of the game. The Broncos collected seven hits, while Vasquez picked up his second win of the season.
Game 2: CPP 2, CSUMB 3
Cal Poly Pomona mounted a late rally, but came up just short in a 3-2 loss to Cal State Monterey Bay in the second game of Friday's doubleheader.
The Otters built an early 3-0 lead with runs in the first two innings, putting the Broncos in an immediate hole. Reigning CCAA Pitcher of the Week
Anthony Cosme regrouped after the early damage and settled in to complete six innings, keeping the Green & Gold within striking distance the rest of the way. Cosme finished with 6.0 innings pitched, three earned runs, five strikeouts, and one walk for his second consecutive quality start.
The Broncos answered in the fifth inning with a timely two-out rally. Arguelles delivered an RBI double to get CPP on the board, and
Diego Murillo followed with another clutch two-out double to bring home a second run and cut the deficit to one.
Arguelles and Murillo led the somewhat limited offense with two of the Broncos' four hits and accounted for both RBI. Despite the momentum shift, the Broncos were unable to generate additional offense in the final two frames, seeing Monterey Bay secure their second win of the series by a final score of 3-2.
Up Next
The Broncos will look for the series split tomorrow, April 4
th, with the series finale beginning at 12:00 PM.
Bronco Bits
- The Broncos are 45-41 all-time against Cal State Monterey Bay, including 4-6 in their past 10 games. They are 13-27 on the road and 38-35 in conference against the Otters.
- Randy Betten is now 451-313 (.590) as head coach of the Broncos and 320-227 (.585) in CCAA play. Betten is just 10 CCAA wins shy of passing legendary coach John Scolinos for most in program history (329).
- As a program, Cal Poly Pomona is now 1,788-1,598-21 in its 66th season overall, including 961-845-4 in CCAA play.
- The Broncos are first in the CCAA in stolen bases (53) and first in fielding percentage (.978). The team has not committed an error in six straight games.
- The pitching staff has issued the second-fewest walks in the CCAA this season with 113 while also striking out the second-most batters (261).
- The Broncos entered the weekend with the 39th toughest strength of schedule in the entire country.
- CPP holds a one-game lead over Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State San Marcos in the CCAA standings.
- The team's 12 conference wins ties last season's total.
