CHICO – Cal State East Bay, UC San Diego, Central Washington, Cal Poly Pomona – the Chico State baseball team has hung maddening losses on each one of them this season. Now the Wildcats can add their own name to that list. Base-running blunders, defensive errors, and free bases from the pitching staff cost Chico State a series sweep in a 7-5 loss to Cal Poly Pomona in 10 innings Sunday at Nettleton Stadium.
The Wildcats, who led 4-0 after five innings, were well on the way to their 12th straight home win to start the season and a share of first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings. But two of Cal Poly Pomona’s first three runs came via walks and wild pitches. Their game-tying run scored when Chico State catcher Kyle Leon grabbed a called strike three in the dirt that seemingly ended the game and threw it well over the head of first-baseman Kevin Seaver with two down in the ninth.
Finally, Chico State reliever Scott Nartker’s four-pitch walk and another 1-0 count precluded Cal Poly Pomona pinch-hitter Tyson Edwards’ game-winning home run in the top of the 10th.
On the base paths, Ben Manlove made the third out of the inning at third base to end the seventh, and Leon was doubled off first after leading off the bottom of the 10th with a base hit.
Fortunately for the Wildcats, days like Sunday have been the exception to the rule thus far this season. As a result, they are still 13-3 overall and 9-3 in the CCAA, tied for second with Cal State San Bernardino a game behind conference leader UC San Diego. The Wildcats entered the weekend ranked No. 14 in the nation and No. 3 in the West Region.
Cal Poly Pomona, ranked No. 4 in the West, improved to 12-9 overall and 6-6 in the CCAA.
Joshua Krist (2-1) earned the win for the Broncos with three-and-a-third innings of scoreless relief. Nartker, who had not allowed a run in his first six appearances of the season, fell to 1-1 with the loss.
Adam Arakawa had another nice day at the plate for the Wildcats, going 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBI, and two runs scored. Larson, Jackson Evans, and Hunter Buckmore also logged two hits apiece.
Erik Riedel paced Cal Poly Pomona with three RBI on 3-for-5 hitting. Robert Palmer was 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
Chico State took the lead with four runs in the fourth. Larson singled and moved to third when Michael Murphy reached second after his sacrifice bunt was thrown down the right field line. Arakawa singled up the middle to plate both runners. He scored when Sever laid down a sacrifice bunt and Evans singled him in. Evans then stole second and scored on the first of two Buckmore doubles on the day.
Chico State starting pitcher Kevin Brahney, who actually pitched a very nice game, hit a batter leading off the sixth and sent him to third with a pair of wild pitches before he scored on a ground ball to make it 4-1.
Arakawa’s leadoff triple in the sixth set up what proved to be Chico State’s last run of the day. He scored on a wild pitch and the Wildcats held a seemingly comfortable 5-1 edge.
But Brahney issued a free pass following a two-out single in the seventh that would eventually cost him when reliever Jordan Lindebaum wild pitched the runners to second and third before surrendering a two-run single that trimmed Chico State’s lead to 5-3.
The Wildcats were in prime position to pad their lead in the bottom half of the inning, but Manlove tried to advance to third on a pitch in the dirt with Jordan Larson at the plate already working on a two-hit game.
The lead remained 5-3 until the Broncos touched Wildcats reliever Sheldon Lechuga for three
consecutive two-out hits in the ninth. The third knock, Riedel’s single up the middle, plated Palmer to make it 5-4.
Chico State reliever Cory Krisman came on to try to get the final out and got his job done, striking out Richard McDowell. But the ball was in the dirt and Leon blocked it so it rolled just in front of home plate. Leon sprung to his feat and grabbed it, and with plenty of time to get the runner, airmailed the throw well over the head of Seaver at first as the tying run scored.
Brahney certainly pitched well enough to win, allowing three runs on five hits in six-and-two-thirds innings. He struck out eight and walked two.
Chico State is back in action next weekend when it travels to face 25th-ranked Cal State San Bernardino in a four-game series at Fiscalini Field. The radio broadcast schedule will be announced later in the week due to the possibility of postseason Chico State women’s basketball.
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