Box Score
ROHNERT PARK -- Cal State L.A.'s baseball team had to dig down deep for a much-needed victory over Sonoma State on Sunday.
The Golden Eagles, staring at the possibility of a four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association sweep, got outstanding relief from
Nick Rodarte and a go-ahead double from
Cliff Quick to post an 8-4 win in 10 innings at Seawolf Diamond. Cal State L.A. (16-8, 11-5 CCAA) had lost the first three games of the series, twice in Sonoma State's final at bat.
Rodarte made sure it wouldn't happen again on Sunday. After bailing the Golden Eagles out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth, the Cal State L.A. left-hander blanked the Seawolves on just one hit over the next five innings. He walked two and struck out seven in the clutch relief effort.
Sonoma State (14-3, 9-3 CCAA) had taken a 4-3 lead in the fifth, but the Golden Eagles tied it in the sixth on a solo home run by
Noe Flores.
That set the stage for a crucial four-run rally in the top of the 10th.
Manny Acosta led off the inning with a single to right and
Joe Park followed with a bunt single. A walk to
Jordan Castro loaded the bases and, after a pitching change, Quick delivered his bases-loaded, two-run double to give the Golden Eagles a 6-4 lead.
A sacrifice fly by
Brian Moon scored Castro and made it 7-4 and a squeeze bunt by Flores drove in Quick to extend the lead to 8-4.
That was more than enough for Rodarte, who retired the Seawolves with only one baserunner in the 10th.
Cal State L.A. had taken a 3-0 lead in the second inning on a three-run home run by Acosta.
Nathan Pickett allowed only one run over the first four innings before leaving after allowing a leadoff single in the fifth. Sonoma State then took advantage of five walks and a wild pitch to take a 4-3 lead before Rodarte came on to get the Golden Eagles out of the inning without further damage.
The Golden Eagles allowed only three hits, but also issued 11 walks. Cal State L.A. managed six hits. Acosta was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI.
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Thursday, March 24, with the opener of a four-game CCAA series against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
