POMONA, Calif. – Dylan Esquival threw a complete game shutout in game two of the doubleheader on Saturday, helping the Broncos improve to 5-7 on the season and 2-1 in CCAA play. By winning at least one of the two games on Saturday, the team has secured at least a series split against CCAA preseason favorites Cal State Monterey Bay.
 
 
Game 1: CPP 7, CSUMB 9
Cal Poly Pomona put up a fierce fight against the Otters in game one of the doubleheader, but ultimately fell 9-7 in a rollercoaster matchup at Scolinos Field. Despite an explosive eighth inning that gave the Broncos a late lead, defensive miscues proved costly as the Otters struck for four runs in the ninth to seal the win.
 
After falling behind 1-0 early, the Broncos surged ahead in the third inning. Marco Malerba's two-run single to left center put CPP on the board, followed by Julian Angulo's RBI single through the left side to give the Broncos a 3-1 lead. However, CSU Monterey Bay responded in the fourth, tying the game at 3-3.
 
The Otters pushed ahead 5-3 in the sixth, but the Broncos clawed back in the seventh thanks to an error that allowed Angulo to score, cutting the deficit to one. The eighth inning saw CPP take control, as a passed ball tied the game and an Anthony Gibbons' two-out, two-run double gave the Broncos a 7-5 advantage heading into the final frame.
 
Monterey Bay capitalized on a pair of costly errors and timely hitting in the ninth, scoring four runs to snatch the victory. Starting pitcher Tyler Reiter went 5.1 innings while allowing five earned and eight hits, before a scoreless 2.2 innings from Colt Tucker and Andrew Campbell in relief. Aren Alvarez (1-2) took the tough-luck loss after the defensive miscues.
 
Johnny Pappas shined for the offense, collecting four hits, while Gibbons and Malerba each drove in two runs.
 
 
Game 2: CPP 6, CSUMB 0
Dylan Esquival and Beau Betten were the heroes of game two on Saturday, securing a dominant 6-0 victory. Esquival was in control from the first pitch, allowing just six hits while striking out six over seven scoreless innings to earn his first win of the season. It was the junior's first career complete game, and the first time he has pitched past the sixth inning in his career.
 
The Broncos wasted no time getting on the board, striking in the first inning when Brent Cota singled up the middle to bring home Pappas for a 1-0 lead. The offense kept rolling in the second, as Beau Betten launched a two-run homer down the left-field line, extending the lead to 3-0 for his first home run of the season and second as a Bronco. Betten also came up with some big plays at shortstop, recording a season-high six assists.
 
In the fifth, Cal Poly Pomona added insurance with a three-run outburst. Julian Angulo singled through the right side to plate Pappas, before Anthony Gibbons delivered the dagger, ripping a two-run double to left-center to make it 6-0.
 
Offensively, the Broncos continued to swing well, tallying eight hits. The first six batters in the lineup each contributed at least one hit, while Dominic Porter led the team with two.
 
 
Up Next
The Broncos will look for a big series win on Sunday, February 23^rd, at 12:00 PM.
 
 
Bronco Bits

• The Broncos are now 43-39 (.524) all-time against Cal State Monterey Bay.
• Randy Betten is now 421-273 (.607) as head coach of the Broncos and 298-193 (.607) in CCAA play.
• Betten is 26 CCAA wins away from tying John Scolinos (324) for the most in program history.
• The last time the Broncos were 5-7 to open the season was 2017.
• Johnny Pappas has a double in four of his past five games. He is now in a four-way tie for sixth in school history with 45 doubles in his career.
• Record Watch - Pappas scored four runs on Saturday, moving him to third-most in program history tying Nic Hernandez (2016-19) at 147. Tom Weeks (1984-87) currently holds the program record at 168.