HAYWARD, Calif.  – Trevor Pasiecznik and Michael Cala each posted two hits and two RBI on Tuesday, propelling San Francisco State to an 8-5 victory over Cal State East Bay in the second game of a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader at Pioneer Field.

 

The Gators (9-16, 4-14 CCAA) took the lead for good with a four-run outburst in the top of the third inning to snap a six-game losing streak after dropping a 4-3 decision in the opener. The Pioneers, meanwhile, move to 8-20 and 6-16 in league play.

 

Kevin Dultz and Dustin Wold also got into the act for SF State with two runs scored and an RBI apiece, while Dultz entered the game in the ninth as a reliever, getting out of a bases-loaded jam to nail down his second save of the season. Starter Jason Ochart (1-1) recorded his first win as a Gator after giving up two runs on seven hits and four walks in seven innings.

 

After the Pioneers jumped out to a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the second, SF State responded with four markers in the third, highlighted by Pasiecznik's two-run double. Devon King also added an RBI groundout in the frame, while Pasiecznik soon touched the plate on a Cala single up the middle.

 

East Bay trimmed the deficit to 4-2 in the fifth when Andrew Woolfe drove in Lincoln Clapper with a triple to left center. However, the Gators promptly answered with two runs of their own to stretch the margin to 6-2. With one out, Dultz roped a double down the left field line and promptly scored on a Wold single. Thomas Wood then followed with a base hit up the middle to plate Wold, who moved into scoring position with his fifth stolen base of the year.

 

SF State increased the margin to 8-2 in the seventh as Cala registered his second RBI single of the contest, while Nic Gauldin came home on a Dultz squeeze bunt. However, the Pioneers would not go quietly, notching two unearned runs in the eighth off reliever Jeff Clegg to pull within 8-4.  With two outs and Nick McManus on first after a single to right center, Jake Davis reached on an error by the Gator outfield, sending McManus to third. Scott Shields promptly doubled in both runners, setting the stage for some more nervous moments in the ninth.

With no outs in the final stanza, Christopher Houston laced a single to left, scoring Clapper, who led off with a walk and moved up to second on Woolfe's base hit through the left side. Dultz, game two's designated hitter, took the mound for Doug Stinson at this juncture and quickly recorded a fly out and a strikeout. Jared Berrier then drew a walk to load the bases, but Dultz preserved the win after retiring Davis with a swinging third strike.

 

East Bay starter Zach Aguirre (0-5) was saddled with the loss after yielding four runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks in two innings, while Woolfe went 3-for-5 at the plate. In addition, Hector Iribe notched two hits in the defeat.

 

In game one, the Pioneers drew first blood when Berrier drove in McManus with an RBI single in the second, while Charlie Sharrer launched a three-run homer to left field with two outs in the third, plating Houston and McManus to give the host school a 4-0 cushion.

 

The Gators finally dented the scoreboard in the top of the fifth when Drew Andersen singled in Dultz, who was previously hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a failed pick-off attempt. 

 

SF State added single runs in the next two frames on a Wood sacrifice fly and Will Klein's RBI groundout, but could draw no closer as East Bay reliever Johnny Volk retired the final seven batters to record his first save of the season.

 

Starter Bryce Miller (3-4) earned the victory after allowing three runs on six hits and four walks in 6 2/3 innings, while his Gator counterpart Nic Banaugh (2-2) absorbed the loss, despite striking out seven batters in eight innings of work. Andersen and Ian Fregosi finished with two hits apiece to lead the offense for the Purple and Gold, while Dultz touched the plate on two occasions.

 

SF State will return to the diamond this weekend, April 1-3, when it opens a four-game home series against Cal State San Bernardino at Maloney Field. The two sides will battle one another in single games Friday and Sunday, sandwiched around a Saturday doubleheader.

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score