SAN BERNARDINO -- Cal State LA's baseball team used some late-game dramatics to get into position for a split of Saturday's California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader, but Cal State San Bernardino had the final act.

The Golden Eagles took a 4-3 lead when Will Picketts hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth, but the Coyotes scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to walk off with a 5-4 win and a doubleheader sweep at Fiscalini Field. Cal State LA (11-14, 6-9 CCAA) had split its first five series of the season, but has dropped the first three of a four-game series with the Coyotes (17-12, 13-6 CCAA) in San Bernardino.

The Golden Eagles, after falling in the opener, 7-2, faced a 3-0 deficit in the nightcap before rallying to take the lead. Hayden Luff delivered a sacrifice fly to score Drew Emmons and Anthony Angel, Jr. singled to drive in Nick Penzetta to make it 3-2 in the fifth.

Then, after A.J. Salgado drew a one-out walk in the sixth, Picketts hit a two-run home run to give the Golden Eagles the lead. The home run was Pickett's team-leading fourth of the season. Mikell Chavez, who entered the game in the sixth inning and got an inning-ending double play from the first batter he faced, ran into trouble in the seventh and Giovanni Del Negro's two-run single gave the Coyotes the win.

Cal State LA managed only five hits in the nightcap, one each from Johnny Pacheco, Picketts, Gerardo Castaneda, Penzetta and Angel.

Owen Hunt made the start for the Golden Eagles and gave up just four hits and one earned run through 5 1/3 innings. He walked seven and struck out four.

In the opener, Cal State LA scored a pair of runs in the top of the first, but was blanked the rest of the way. Pacheco and Wilem Drozdowski opened the game with singles and Picketts was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Emmons drove in Pacheco with a sacrifice fly and Drozdowski scored later on a passed ball.

Cal State San Bernardino, though, got a solo home run by Daryl Ruiz and a two-run home run by Kyle Csaken in a three-run second inning and never looked back. 

Brent Jacques went six innings for the Golden Eagles and gave up six hits and six earned runs. He walked one and struck out three. Christian Casados pitched well in relief, tossing two scoreless innings while allowing one hit and one walk and striking out two.

Austyn Coleman tossed a complete game for the Coyotes to improve to 4-1. He allowed seven hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out seven.

Drozdowski, Salgado and Nick Atkins had two hits each for the Golden Eagles.

The series will conclude on Sunday with a single game beginning at noon.



  Read Full Article