LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.’s baseball team saw its seven-game winning streak snapped Thursday night by Chico State in a tense opener to a four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association series.
The Golden Eagles got outstanding pitching from Greg Humbert and Mitchell Moore, but couldn’t produce enough late-inning heroics and fell to the Wildcats, 3-2, at Reeder Field. Cal State L.A. (19-10, 14-7 CCAA) committed a costly fourth-inning error and left eight runners on base, including six in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
Humbert pitched seven strong innings to give the Golden Eagles a chance. He allowed eight hits and three runs, but only two of them were earned. He walked one and struck out five in his longest outing of the season.
Moore entered the game in the eighth and was dynamic over the final two innings. He retired all six batters he faced, four of them by strikeout.
Kyle Peralta was 2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI for Cal State L.A., while Jesus Cuevas was 2-for-3 with one run scored.
Danny Miller was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. He had a pair of triple down the right-field line that were instrumental in the Chico State win. Dylan Garcia was 2-for-5.
Luke Barker went eight innings to get the win for Chico State. He allowed seven hits and only one earned run and was able to escape Cal State L.A. threats in the latter part of his start. Ryan O’Shea pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his fifth save of the season.
The Golden Eagles struck first in the second with an unearned run. Peralta doubled and scored with two outs when a ground ball from the bat of Paul Martinez was misplayed and then throw away.
Cal State L.A. helped Chico State get two runs in the fourth. An infield pop-up was dropped to start the inning and Miller cashed in the miscue with his first triple of the game. Sean Smith followed with a one-out single to score Miller and give Chico State a 2-1 lead.
Chico State made it 3-1 in the sixth. Miller tripled again and scored on a groundout by Clayton Gelfand.
The Golden Eagles didn’t score in the sixth after loading the bases with one out on a walk to Trent Zaks, a single by Rodrigo Martinez, a sacrifice bunt by Jesus Cuevas and an intentional walk to Peralta. The Golden Eagles didn’t score in the seventh inning, either, after Paul Martinez led off with a single.
Cal State L.A. made it 3-2 in the eighth when Peralta doubled home Cuevas with one out. Jake Jelmini was hit by a pitch, but Barker retired the next two batters to escape further trouble.
The Golden Eagles got the tying run aboard in the ninth when Nick Osuna drew a one-out walk. Trent Zaks hit a bullet on a 3-2 pitch that seemed destined for left field, but Garcia dove to his left to make the play and began a game-ending double play.
Cal State L.A. will continue the four-game series with Chico State in a doubleheader at Reeder Field beginning at 1 p.m.
Game Recap Provided Courtesy of Cal State LA Athletics
Game Photos can been viewed: www.fullimage360.com
