Offense Explodes to Clinch Series Over LA
LOS ANGELES – The Broncos scored 13 runs on 14 hits in the series finale on Sunday, defeating Cal State LA 13-3 to claim the series victory. With the win, Cal Poly Pomona improves to 24-17 on the season and 20-12 in conference play. That is now the 10th time in Randy Betten's 12 full seasons (COVID excluded) that CPP has reached the 20-win mark in conference games.
The Broncos got to work early, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. Johnny Pappas smacked the third pitch of the game over the right center field fence, his seventh home run of the season to match his career total entering the year. Now with 14, he sits just three away from 10th place on the CPP all-time list.
Freshman Julian Angulo added on with a double down the right field line, scoring Marco Malerba to make the score 2-0. Darius Price followed with a double to center field, driving in two more runners to bring it to 4-0 before the Golden Eagles got a chance to bat.
In the top of the third inning, Angulo hit his second career home run – a no doubter to the left of the indoor batting cage - to extend the lead to 6-1. Marlerba added on one more with an RBI double in the fourth, his ninth of the season. The next batter, Anthony Gibbons, then hit his team-leading eighth home run to left field to extend the lead to seven. The Broncos poured it on in the seventh inning, scoring four runs on four hits to take a comfortable 13-3 lead.
Evan Adolphus went 7.0 strong innings, allowing just three earned runs for his third quality start of the season. The junior struck out five Golden Eagle batters while not allowing a free pass on 86 pitches. The win was Adolphus' third of the season, improving to 3-2 on the year.
Senior Ruben Del Castillo threw the remaining two innings out of the pen, surrendering just one hit and one walk while striking three on 27 pitches.
Up Next
The Broncos will host Cal State Dominguez Hills this coming weekend in an eventful series at Scolinos Field. On Saturday, members of the 1976 national championship team will throw out the first pitch before game one of the doubleheader. Then on Sunday, the program will honor their seniors with a ceremony before the game.
Bronco Bits
- CPP is now 124-113 (.523) all-time against Cal State LA, including 7-3 in their past 10 games. The Broncos' largest margin of victory is 13 runs, which, shockingly, came in an extra inning game in 2022 where CPP scored 13 runs in the top of the 10th inning to win 22-9.
- Randy Betten is now 408-259 (.612) overall as head coach of the Broncos. He is 34 CCAA wins away from passing John Scolinos for most conference games won in CPP history. He is now 291-189 (.606) in CCAA games, while Scolinos was 324-256-3 (.558) in conference competition.
- Jack Sanders' 38-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 is tied with Chris Clark (1978-80) for 6th most walks in program history at 97. Pappas' current coach, Jenzen Torres, is tied with Tom Weeks for 4th most at 100.
- Saturday's win in game two of the doubleheader was assistant coach Anthony Mizrahi's 100th as a member of the CPP coaching staff.
Latest All Athletics News
- Men’s Track and Field Completes Three-Peat at CCAA ChampionshipsFor the third consecutive season, the Cal Poly Pomona men's track and field team has claimed the CCAA title. They finished with 250 points, narrowly beating Chico State at 220 and dominating the remainder of the conference – third place being Cal State Los Angeles at 88 points.
- Women’s Track and Field Three-Peats in TurlockFor the third consecutive season, the Cal Poly Pomona women's track and field team has won the CCAA Track and Field Championships. This year, they needed just 159.5 points to claim the title, defeating Chico State (130.5) and Cal State San Bernardino (127).
- Broncos Stunned by Yotes in Regular Season Finale, Look Ahead to CCAA TournamentThe Cal Poly Pomona baseball team fell to Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday afternoon in heartbreaking fashion, as the Yotes hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to win the final game of the regular season. Though the game had no effect on the CCAA standings, the series loss likely has regional ranking implications for CPP.
- Christensen Wins Shot Put, Broncos Climb to No. 2 at CCAA ChampionshipsThe Cal Poly Pomona women's track and field team had a strong showing in Day 2 of the CCAA Championships on Friday, climbing from sixth place to second in the team leader board.
- Hill Breaks School Record as Men Sweep Long Jump at CCAA ChampionshipsDarius Hill broke the Cal Poly Pomona school record in the long jump on Friday, jumping a distance of 7.64 meters to pass teammate Deandre Smith's mark last season of 7.60 meters. This mark was also good for first place in the event, making Hill the CCAA Champion. Smith and Justin Cardoza also had podium finishes in the long jump, leading to a complete sweep of the event for the Green & Gold.
- Broncos Explode for 21 Runs in San BernardinoThe Broncos split Friday's doubleheader against Cal State San Bernardino, moving to 29-19 on the season and 25-14 in CCAA play. With the two losses in the series, the Broncos are no longer able to pass Cal State San Marcos in the standings, taking them out of contention for the CCAA regular season title.
