POMONA, Calif. – In a thrilling series finale at Scolinos Field, Cal Poly Pomona outlasted No. 15 Cal State Monterey Bay in a dramatic 11-10 victory on Sunday afternoon. A pivotal three-run rally in the eighth inning helped secure the win, pushing the Broncos to a 6-7 overall record and 3-1 in conference play through CCAA opening weekend.
 
The game started with a bang for Cal Poly Pomona, as Anthony Gibbons launched a three-run homer down the left field line in the bottom of the first, giving the Broncos an early 3-0 lead. The Otters fought back of the next few frames, scoring one in the third and three in the fourth to take a 4-3 advantage.
 
CPP erased the lead for the first time in the bottom of the fifth inning, stringing together a series of key hits. Julian Angulo and Dominic Porter both delivered RBI singles through the left side, putting the Broncos ahead 6-4. But the No. 15 ranked Otters weren't done, as a three-run homer in the top of the sixth inning swung the game back in their favor, 7-6.
 
The Broncos wasted no time answering back. In the bottom of the sixth, Brent Cota doubled down the right field line to bring home the tying run, and Marco Malerba followed with a go-ahead RBI single to make it 8-7 – the second time the Broncos regained the lead in the game.
 
Monterey Bay once again struck with the long ball in the top of the eighth inning on another two-run homer, giving them a 9-8 advantage. But in the bottom of the frame, CPP capitalized on a costly passed ball that allowed Beau Betten to score the tying run. Moments later, Malerba delivered once again, ripping a two-run single to center field to score both Cota and Johnny Pappas, giving the Broncos an 11-9 lead – their third and final time regaining the lead in the game.
 
CSUMB made things interesting in the ninth, scoring one run, but Ruben Del Castillo held firm to record his first save of the season. Aaron Rosales (1-0) picked up the win with two innings of relief, allowing two runs on a homer while striking out two. Evan Adolphus got the start on the mound for CPP, going 6.0 innings on 89 pitches. In an otherwise solid start, Adolphus was bit by the long ball, as just two home runs accounted for five of the seven runs he allowed.
 
The Broncos tallied 13 hits in the victory, with Cota and Pappas each scoring three times. The duo each hit over .500 in the series, proving to be a significant threat at the top of the lineup for the Green & Gold.
 
This weekend featured a showdown of the two CCAA preseason favorites, as the Otters were picked No. 1 in the conference preseason poll and the Broncos were selected second. Given the talent on the two rosters and how close the games were, these two teams are bound face one another again in the postseason.
 
 
Up Next
The Broncos have gone through a gauntlet to open the season, as all three DII teams they have faced so far – Westmont, Colorado Mesa, and Cal State Monterey Bay - have been nationally ranked. And that isn't letting up anytime soon. Their next two series are against #8 Chico State and #20 Cal State San Bernardino, meaning the Broncos' first five series (against DII competition) will be against teams ranked in the Top 25. Despite this challenge, the Broncos are currently 6-4 against said opponents.
 
CPP will travel up to Chico State for a series beginning on Friday, February 28^th.
 
 
Bronco Bits

• The Broncos are now 44-39 (.524) all-time against Cal State Monterey Bay.
• Randy Betten is now 422-273 (.607) as head coach of the Broncos and 299-193 (.608) in CCAA play.
• Betten is 25 CCAA wins away from tying John Scolinos (324) for the most in program history.
• The last time the Broncos were 6-7 to open the season was 2022.
• Johnny Pappas' 46 career doubles is tied for fifth most in school history.
• Record Watch - Pappas stands alone at third in runs scored in school history with 150. Tom Weeks (1984-87) currently holds the program record at 168.
• Beau Betten cracked the Top 10 in career hit by pitches with 22 – in only 63 career games played at CPP.