LANCASTER -- Cal State LA's baseball team was unable to pull out a win Saturday in its finale at the Collegiate Baseball Classic, but the Golden Eagles could at least point to some positive developments with conference play starting next week.
The Golden Eagles battled back from a 5-1 deficit and had the tying run at third base in the bottom of the ninth inning of a 5-4 loss to the University of British Columbia at The Hangar. Cal State LA (1-10) manufactured single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings and got solid efforts from six relievers to give itself a chance to win. British Columbia, though, got a five-out save from closer Tyler Gillies to complete the tournament with a 3-1 record.
Brandon Zavala was pressed into duty as the starter on Saturday and he pitched admirably in his first career start for the Golden Eagles. The sophomore allowed eight hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings while walking two and striking out three. He allowed a single run in the first and pitched shutout innings in the second and third before tiring a bit over his last four outs.
Six Cal State LA relievers did their part in keeping the Thunderbirds in check while the offense chipped away at the deficit.
James Mendez allowed two hits and one run in one innings,
Holden Berger retired all three batters he faced,
Merrick Patito gave up a hit and recorded an out,
Jordan Cavazos gave up just one hit and one walk while striking out one in a scoreless inning,
Ryan Dixon allowed two hits and got a big strikeout in the ninth and
Jesus Farias got the Golden Eagles out of the ninth with just one pitch.
Overall, the six Cal State LA relievers scattered six hits and allowed just one run over the final 4 2/3 innings.
Cal State LA also played well defensively, especially catcher
Ryan Welker, who threw out two more baserunners trying to steal.
Cal State LA picked up five hits in the game, including a triple by
Trevor Meleski. Welker,
Garrett Dean,
Dakota Hernandez and pinch hitter
Christian Broussard, Jr. also collected hits.
After British Columbia took a 1-0 lead in the first, the Golden Eagles tied it with a run in the second. Hernandez singled with one out, took second on a balk and scored on Meleski's two-out triple.
British Columbia (13-5) added one run in the fourth, two in the fifth and one more in the sixth to take its 5-1 lead. The Thunderbirds had 14 hits in the game.
The Golden Eagles made it 5-2 in the sixth when
Christopher Flores scored on a two-out single by Welker and closed to within 5-3 in the seventh when Meleski walked and eventually scored on a British Columbia error.
The Golden Eagles made it 5-4 in the eighth when Welker walked, took third on a single by Dean and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hernandez, who hit a deep drive to center that was flagged down just short of the fence by Tyler Enns.
Broussard got a one-out single in the ninth and pinch runner
Armett Johnson took second on an errant pickoff attempt and reached third with two out before Gilles got the final out.
Cal State LA will open California Collegiate Athletic Association competition on Friday with the opener of a four-game series at Cal State San Marcos. That series will include a game at San Marcos on Saturday and conclude with a Sunday doubleheader at Reeder Field.
