Broncos Drop Series Opener to Yotes
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The Cal Poly Pomona baseball team dropped their series opener against Cal State San Bernardino on Thursday, falling to 28-18 on the season and 24-13 in CCAA play.
A big second inning hurt the Broncos, as the Coyotes plated four runs on back-to-back home runs to take a quick 4-0 lead. After a few scoreless frames, CPP got on the board in the top of the sixth inning on a Marco Malerba solo shot to left field, his fourth of the season.
The Broncos' best opportunity to even the game came in the top of the seventh with two out. Beau Betten reached on an error by the third baseman, allowing AJ Nimeh to score to narrow the deficit to two. The very next batter, Brent Cota, doubled to right field to score Betten, bringing the score to 4-3. With a runner in scoring position and two outs, NCBWA West Region Player of the Week Jack Sanders struck out swinging, ending the late inning threat.
Cal Poly Pomona would go down in order in the final two innings, allowing CSUSB to take game one of the series. Caleb Reyes took his first loss of the season, allowing four earned runs in 6.0 innings while fanning seven batters. Dylan Esquival threw the final two innings, allowing one run in the eighth while allowing two hits and recording two strikeouts.
Playoff Picture
With the Broncos' loss on Thursday, they are now 24-13 in the CCAA standings while Cal State San Marcos remains in first place with a 26-13 record. The only way the Broncos can pass the Cougars is if CPP wins all three remaining games against San Bernardino. If they do that, they will finish 27-13 and be able to claim a share of the conference title. Cal State Monterey Bay, who entered the weekend 23-13, can also finish 27-13 if they sweep Cal State East Bay at home. Because San Marcos had a game rained out and are finishing on a bye week (totaling 39 CCAA games), there is no scenario for either CPP or CSUMB to tie San Marcos for first place, however, they could tie each other.
In order to secure a bye in the CCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed, the Broncos just need to match Cal State Monterey Bay this weekend. That means if the Otters only win two games in their series, the Broncos will just need to win two as well. Monterey Bay holds the tie breaker over CPP, so the Broncos need to avoid finishing even with them – that is unless both teams pass San Marcos and tie for first place.
Bottom line – just win.
Up Next
The Broncos and Coyotes will face off in a doubleheader tomorrow, May 3rd, starting at 12:00 PM at Fiscalini Field.
Bronco Bits
- The Broncos are 85-76 (.528) all-time against Cal State San Bernardino, including 4-6 in their past 10 matchups.
- Randy Betten is now 412-260 (.613) as head coach of the Broncos. He is 30 CCAA wins away from passing John Scolinos for most conference games won in CPP history. Betten is now 295-190 (.608) in CCAA games, while Scolinos was 324-256-3 (.558) in conference competition.
- With one more win, the Broncos will tie their win total from last season at 29.
- Jack Sanders' 43-game on-base streak is the longest for CPP since 2012. He has reached base in every single contest since game two of opening day against Azusa Pacific at home.
- Johnny Pappas moved up to fifth all-time in career walks on Thursday, now with 98 in his career. With three more, he will pass both Jenzen Torres (2009-12) and Tom Weeks (1984-87) at 100 for fourth place on the all-time list.
- The Broncos' winning streak ended at six straight games, the second time they have won that many in a row this season.
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