LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's baseball team had some clutch performances Friday in a key California Collegiate Athletic Association victory over Cal Poly Pomona.
The Golden Eagles erased a 1-0 deficit with a two-run fourth inning, took the lead for good thanks to a two-out run batted in from
Nic Bereaud and got a masterful three-inning save from
Gabe Ramos to post a tight 3-2 win over the Broncos at Reeder Field. Cal State LA (8-7, 5-5 CCAA) won its second straight one-run game over Cal Poly Pomona (8-8, 5-5 CCAA).
Joey Deceglie pitched six outstanding innings for the Golden Eagles, allowing only five hits and two runs while walking two and striking out four. Ramos came on and allowed only one hit over the final three innings with no walks and three strikeouts.
Cal Poly Pomona also got a strong outing from its starter, Ryan Alsworth, who gave up six hits and two earned runs over 5 2/3 innings. Brian Conley blanked the Golden Eagles over the final 2 1/3 innings and allowed only one hit while striking out four.
Jordan Peabody had two hits for the Golden Eagles, while Sean Grebeck had a pair of hits for the Broncos. Cal State LA outhit the Cal Poly Pomona, 7-6.
The Broncos took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on an opposite-field home run by Brennan McKenzie, but the Golden Eagles struck for two runs in the bottom of the inning and looked like they would have at least one more.
Jorge Garcia walked, took second on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single to left by
Anthony Moreno.
Adam Gordon then gave the Golden Eagles the lead when he lined a shot off the right-centerfield fence that bounded back toward left field. As Moreno scored easily, Gordon raced around third and appeared headed for an inside-the-park home run when he slipped and was eventually tagged out at the plate.
The Broncos tied the game in the sixth thanks to a pair of walks and a run-scoring single by Bryce Etchandy, but the Golden Eagles again responded in the bottom of the inning and, again, did the scoring with two outs.
Andre Gregory singled with one out. He then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error before scoring what turned out to be the winning run on a big two-out single by Bereaud.
Ramos entered the game in the seventh and allowed only one baserunners over the final three innings. He retired the seven batters he faced.
Cal State LA will conclude the four-game series with a doubleheader at Cal Poly Pomona beginning at 1 p.m., weather permitting.