CSULA-CPP Box

CSULA-SMU Box

LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s baseball team had results in its two games Saturday that were like night and day – or in this case, morning to late afternoon.

 

After falling apart in a 17-9 non-conference loss to Cal Poly Pomona early on Saturday, the Golden Eagles rebounded to record a 7-3 victory over Saint Martin's later in the day at Reeder Field. Cal State L.A. (2-1) surrendered 21 hits and nine walks in the opener, but came back to give up just four hits and three runs in the second game against the Saints.

 

Gabriel Asakura was masterful against Saint Martin's (0-5), allowing only one hit and three walks while striking out eight. Four Cal State L.A. relievers took it from there, limiting Saint Martin's to a three-run home run by Aaron Johnson in the seventh inning and that was it. Anthony Lopez tossed two scoreless innings to pick up the win. After Daniel Duran was touched for the three-run homer in the seventh, Cliff Quick and Thomas Landeros each pitched a scoreless inning to wrap things up.

 

Chad Nacapoy provided the fireworks against Saint Martin's belting a two-run home run in the fourth to give the Golden Eagles a 5-0 lead and hitting a solo shot in the sixth inning to stretch the lead to 6-0.

 

He was also hit by a pitch and scored a third run.

 

Leadoff hitter Joe Park had a triple and two walks and scored three times, while Chris Matzner had two hits and drove in a run, Brian Moon had a pair of hits and scored a run and Manny Acosta drove in two runs.

 

Cal State L.A. finished with 10 hits in the victory.

 

The Golden Eagles didn't lack for offense in the opener, but their nine runs and 12 hits were not nearly enough as Cal Poly Pomona (4-0) pounded out 21 hits, received nine walks and scored 17 runs. After spotting the Golden Eagles a 5-2 lead after four innings, the Broncos scored 14 runs over the next four innings against Cal State L.A. relievers and tacked on another run in the ninth for good measure.

 

Cal Poly Pomona's Travis Taijeron went 5-for-5 with four runs scored and four RBI, while Jenzen Torres went 3-for-4 with five runs scored and three RBI. He hit a three-run home run as part of a four-run seventh inning for the Broncos that broke an 8-8 tie.

Matzner drove in three runs and scored twice for the Golden Eagles, while Jordan Castro, Brian Moon and Acosta had two hits each. Brett Whalen drove in a pair of runs.

 

Cal State L.A. starter David Arredondo allowed only a pair of unearned runs through the first four innings. He walked four and struck out one.

 

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Tuesday with a home game against California Baptist at 2 p.m.