The Cal State LA men’s baseball team broke out the brooms as they swept the Stanislaus State Warriors in a four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series this past weekend at Reeder Field.
The Golden Eagles took the series opener on Friday, as they cruised past the Warriors 10-4.
After trailing 1-0 after the first, the Golden Eagles answered back in a big way, as they exploded for seven runs in the second inning and added another run in the fourth to lead the Warriors 8-1.
Cal State LA gave up three runs in the fifth off three errors, but responded back with two of their own which made the score 10-4.
Golden Eagles starter Nick Moisant pitched eight strong innings and gave up one earned run on five hits and struck out a season-high eight batters.
Centerfielder Jordan Myrow and third baseman Nate Alam both picked up three hits for Cal State LA.
Both teams were in doubleheader action on Saturday and the Golden Eagles emerged victorious in both games.
In game one, starter Saxon Andross pitched seven strong innings for the “Black and Gold”, gave up one earned run on five hits and struck out five to win his second game of the season.
“Usually I’m a fastball pitcher and this week, I needed to take a different approach,” said Andross. “I tackled with more offspeed and I felt like I did a great job with that.”
The Golden Eagles’ right fielder Adam Gordon broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run homerun in the fifth inning to take the lead 4-2. Cal State LA added two more runs in the sixth to complete the scoring, 6-2.
There was plenty of drama in the ninth inning as Golden Eagles’ reliever Dylan Suppan had the bases-loaded with the game-tying run at the plate, but managed to escape the jam and secured the win for his team.
Micah Hee got the start for Cal State LA in the seven inning nightcap and delivered a strong outing. Hee pitched a complete game and allowed two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts, as he improved his record to 4-0 this season.
The Golden Eagles scored four runs in the first two innings and never looked back. The Warriors scored in the third and fourth inning to cut the deficit in half, but the Golden Eagles answered back with run in sixth to win the nightcap, 5-2.
“Both starting pitchers gave us a great start,” said Golden Eagles head coach Vince Beringhele. “They threw strikes, pounded the strike zone and gave us an opportunity.”
The series finale was on St. Patrick’s Day, but no luck was needed for Cal State LA as they completed the series sweep against Stanislaus, 4-3.
A solo home run by right fielder Michael Tillman gave Cal State LA a 1-0 lead in the second.
Starting pitcher Alec Daily got the win as he pitched seven solid innings for the Golden Eagles and allowed only two earned runs on two hits and struck out eight.
“[Daily] was outstanding on the bump,” said Beringhele. “I didn’t want to risk him getting any injuries and we knew we had fresh guys in the pen to finish it off.”
Daily retired the first 13 batters, but a solo home run in the fifth ended his streak. The Warriors added another run in the fifth to take the lead.
Cal State LA answered back in the bottom of the fifth, as second baseman Jordan Peabody drove in shortstop Tyler Odekirk and Alam to give his team the lead. A wild pitch scored Myrow and Cal State LA extended their lead, 4-2.
The Warriors added a run in the sixth to cut the lead, 4-3.
Drama began in the eighth inning when Golden Eagles reliever Austin Nazabal loaded the bases with no outs. Nazabal got the next three outs via pop-up, throwing a runner out trying to steal home and a lineout to first.
This was Nazabal’s first game back from the broken jaw injury he suffered last month at Dixie State.
“My thought process was take it pitch by pitch and to give my team the opportunity to make the plays,” said Nazabal.
Tensions were high in the ninth after the Warriors had the tying-run on third with one out, but Golden Eagles reliever, Zachary Grande picked up the next two outs via groundout and strikeout to record the save and secured the win for his team.
After the series sweep, Cal State LA extend their winning streak to seven straight games and they have won nine of their last 12 games. Their overall record improves to 11-12 and they are currently in fifth place of the CCAA with a 10-9 record.
Cal State LA will begin a four-game road series at Chico State as they battle the Wildcats at Nettleton Stadium beginning on Friday, March 22.
“[Chico State’s] a quality team and they are always one of the elite team in the conference,’’ said Beringhele. “We will have to be prepared and we are trying to stay as healthy as we can get.”
