Box Score
CHICO, Calif. - The Chico State baseball team dropped the series opener to Cal State L.A. 4 -3 on Friday night in front of more than 600 people at Nettleton Stadium. The win for the visiting Golden Eagles was their 12th in a row, snapping Chico's six-game streak in what was a battle to the end.
CSLA scored a run in the top of the ninth for the win. Henry Contreras doubled to lead off the inning, was sacrificed to second and scored on a single to left off the bat of pinch hitter Brian Hernandez.
The No. 1-ranked Wildcats move to 19-2 overall with a 7-2 record in conference standings. No. 5 Cal State L.A. remains undefeated in league play and is 16-1-1 overall.
Starting pitcher Nick Bryant was brilliant once again for the Wildcats, striking out nine batters and only giving up one run through seven innings. Chico had the lead for most of the three and a half hour game, but Cal State L.A tied the game in the eighth, only to get one more in the ninth to seal the victory.
Each team posted two errors in the contest, but they proved to be more devastating for the Wildcats. A throwing mistake by catcher Lorin Nakagawa in the eighth allowed the Golden Eagles to score the first of two runs in the frame, which tied the game.
Chico left eleven runners stranded on the bases and had two runners thrown out at the plate in their second loss of the season. Chico connected with a lot of pitches that were driven deep and into the gaps, but centerfielder Fernando Franco stole the show with several heart-pounding catches.
Arturo Reyes (2-0) earned the victory for Cal State L.A, pitching the final four outs of the game. Jason Gillard (0-1) picked up his first loss for the Wildcats, giving up three runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings.
For the Wildcats, defending CCAA Player of the Week Edgar Sedano had three hits, while Carl Fairburn and Greg Finazzo each had two of the Wildcats' 10 hits in the game.
Jack Roche led the Golden Eagles and all players in the game with four hits. Adam Klein and Henry Contreras each contributed a pair of hits to CSLA's 11 total.
The series resumes tomorrow with a doubleheader, starting at 12:00.
