HAYWARD---  Ryan Burke's two-out run scoring single in the top of the seventh inning gave the visiting SF State Gators a 2-1 win over the Cal State East Bay Pioneers this afternoon at Pioneer Field.  With the win, the Gators kept their CCAA Baseball Championships hopes alive heading into the final four games of the regular season.
 
"We received strong efforts on the mound from (Ulices) Moreno, (Joe) Chedid and (Brent) Montgomery and a timely hit from (Ryan) Burke for the win," said SF State head coach Tony Schifano. 
 
The top three teams in each of the two divisions in the CCAA will receive bids to the CCAA Baseball Championships, May 11-14.  The championship will be held at Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton, California.  The Gators are currently in fifth place in the CCAA North Division, 3.5 games out of the third spot which is held by Cal State East Bay. 
 
Ulices Moreno held the Pioneers scoreless in the first three innings of the game.  Cal State East Bay managed just two hits off of Moreno and only once reached second base. 
 
SF State (22-22, 14-18 CCAA) took a 1-0 lead in its half of the fourth inning.  Jake Faulkner had a two-out double down the left field line, advanced to third on a passed ball when Connor Fraser walked.  He scored on an infield single by Andrew Breen to give the Gators the 1-0 lead.
 
The visitors did not hold that lead long as the Pioneers tied the game in their half of the fourth inning.  Rudy Navarro and Troy Resch had back to back lead-off singles, which Navarro went to third.  Navarro scored when Gator reliever, Joe Chedid, induced a double play ball by Dakota Conners to tie the game at 1-1.
 
The Pioneers had a chance to take the lead in the bottm of the fifth inning.  Michael Frantz had a one-out single, went to third when Marcus Wise reached on a Gator fielding error.  Wise then stole his 12^th base of the season.  Raymond Jones reached on a fielder's choice, which Frantz was out at home on.  The Gators intentionally walked Navarro and Chedid induced the final out on a ground out to Bryce Brooks at short.
 
The score remained tied at 1-1 until the Gator seventh.  Connor Fraser had a lead-off single, went to second on sacrifice by Breen.  Ryan Taylor came in to pinch run for Fraser at second with one out.  Pinch-hitter Dalton Pizzuti reached on a walk.  Brooks loaded the bases on a single to center field.  With two outs, Ryan Burke hit the third pitch he saw for a single to right field which brought in Taylor with what proved be the game-winning run.
 
Brent Montgomery came on to pitch in the bottom of the seventh for the Gators.  The first batter grounded out back to him.  Then pinch-hitter Kris Bartlett reached on a fielding error.  Montgomery induced the next Pioneer to ground out to a 6-3 double play to preserve the 2-1 Gator victory.
 
Chedid (2-2) picked up the win in relief, pitching three innings, giving up three hits, one run and walking two.  Montgomery recorded his third save of the season by pitching a scoreless seventh inning.  SF State managed 8 hits on the day with Burke and Brooks leading the way each with two hits.
 
Cal State East Bay (27-17, 18-15 CCAA) managed just five hits on the day with Frantz and Troy Resch with two hits apiece.  Andrew Fernandez (3-2) picked up the loss in the start for the Pioneers, pitching a complete game while giving up 8 hits, two runs (one earned) striking out three and walking two.
 
With the win, SF State split the four-game CCAA series with Cal State East Bay.  This the fourth conference series this season that the Gators have either split or won the series.
The Gators will now need to sweep Sonoma State this weekend in their four-game series and have Cal State Monterey Bay sweep Cal State East Bay in their four-game series this weekend.
 
The series between the Gators and Seawolves will begin this Friday, May 6 with a 2pm starting nine-inning game at SF State's Maloney Field.  The two teams will continue the home-away series the next day in Rohnert Park with an 11am starting doubleheader (nine and seven inning games).  The series will conclude at SF State with an 11am starting game on Sunday, May 8. Prior to the game at 10:30am, the Gators will recognize their five seniors in Ryan Burke, Joe Chedid, Connor Fraser, Shane Martin and Peter Reyes in a ceremony. 
 
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About SF State Athletics
Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
 
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement.  The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.