HAYWARD – The Chico State baseball team drove home disappointed for the first time this season Saturday after splitting a doubleheader at Cal State East Bay, winning the first game 11-3 before dropping the series finale 5-0. Those results left the ’Cats lamenting a series split with the second-to-last place team in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).

The Wildcats took control of the CCAA standings while playing their first 16 conference games on the road and winning 12 of those. They boasted a 13-5 record away from home heading into this series. They still hold a tenuous lead on first thanks to their come-from-behind win in Saturday’s first game, but it’s now only one game over UC San Diego.

It could have been worse. The Wildcats trailed 3-2 heading into the eighth in Saturday’s first game before scoring four times in the eighth and five more runs in the ninth to pull away. Seldom-used Phil Johnson singled home the tying run in the eighth and then pinch hitter Ian McKay knocked in the winning run. TJ Yasuhara and Cody Foster also drove in runs in the inning.

The Wildcats put the game away with a five-run ninth spurred by home runs off the bats of Matt Anderson and Justin Manci. Stephen Thompson (2-0) got the final out of the seventh to pick up the win. Sheldon Lechuga retired all five batters he faced, one on a double-play grounder, to earn his fifth save of the season.

The Wildcats looked to carry that offensive momentum over into the second game but left the bases loaded in the first and had Jackson Evans thrown out at home to end the second.

The Pioneers, on the other hand, took full advantage of their very first scoring opportunity. Freshman starter Nick Baker did not allow a hit through three frames but ran into trouble in the fourth, surrendering a leadoff double and then a two-run triple and RBI-double later in the inning.

Those three runs on three hits were all he allowed, but it was enough to hand him his first loss of the season, sending him to 7-1. Juan Guerra surrendered two runs in the sixth in a rare rough outing, accounting for the final count of 5-0.

Bringas banged out five hits on the day to lead the Chico State offense. Yasuhara, Foster and Ben Manlove mustered three apiece.

Chico State, which entered the weekend ranked No. 7 in the nation and No. 2 in the West, is now 27-10 overall and 21-9 in the CCAA. Cal State East Bay improved to 15-32 overall and finished up its CCAA season with a 13-27 record.

GAME 1 BOX SCORE

GAME 2 BOX SCORE

The Wildcats will play their final 10 regular season games in 10 days beginning with a four-game series against UC San Diego that starts Friday at 6 PM. After hosting the Tritons, they’ll host Cal State Stanislaus in a doubleheader Tuesday May 3 at 2 PM and then wrap up the regular season with a home-and-away four-game series against rival Sonoma State, which currently sits in third place.

The top four teams in the CCAA standings at the end of the regular season, based on winning percentages, will advance to the CCAA Championship Tournament May 12-14 in Stockton.

Chico State’s Remaining Regular Season Schedule
Friday, April 29 vs. UC San Diego – 6 PM
Saturday, April 30 vs. UC San Diego (DH) – Noon
Sunday, May 1 vs. UC San Diego – 11 AM
Tuesday, May 3 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (DH) – 2 PM
Friday, May 6 @ Sonoma State – 2 PM
Saturday, May 7 @ Sonoma State – 11 AM
Sunday, May 9 vs. Sonoma State (DH) – 11 AM

Home games in cardinal.