SAN BERNARDINO – The Chico State baseball team failed to take advantage of Cody Webber’s first-inning grand slam in a 7-6 loss to Cal State San Bernardino in the second game of a doubleheader at Fiscalini Field Friday to finish a doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Coyotes. Cal State San Bernardino won the first game 9-1.

Webber launched the ball over the wall in left-center field after TJ Yasuhara led off the inning with a single, Pierson Jeremiah reached on a fielders’ choice, and Cody Foster bunted for a hit to give the Wildcats a 4-0 lead in the nightcap. The blast also infused some much-needed energy into the dugout following the debilitating loss in the opener.

But the Coyotes bounced back with two runs in the second off Wildcats starter Nick Baker in the second and knocked him out of the game with a four-run third that gave them the lead for good.

Chico State got a run back in the fourth on Ian McKay’s solo home run to make it a 6-5 game. However, the Coyotes got a huge insurance run in the sixth. That proved to be vital when the Wildcats rallied in the seventh with consecutive doubles by Blake Gibbs and Webber that cut the lead back to a single run. Myles Dempsey grounded out for the second out of the inning, however, and then Austin Prott struck out to end the game.

Gibbs finished 3-for-4 for the Wildcats, while Webber and Yasuhara banged out two hits apiece. Yasuhara extended his hitting streak to 13 games in the process.

Sean Martin gave the Wildcats a chance to come back with two and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief. He allowed two hits, didn’t walk a batter, and struck out a pair.

Foster went 2-for-4 in the opener for the Wildcats and drove in their only run of the game, plating Yasuhara with an infield single. Morgan Yee, the third Chico State pitcher of the game, proved to be the most effective, tossing two and a-third innings of scoreless relief. He gave up two hits and a walk and struck out two.

The Wildcats, ranked No. 15 in the nation entering the weekend, fell to 26-11 overall and 16-11 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with the losses.

Cal State San Bernardino improved to 16-12 overall and 13-10 in the CCAA.

The Wildcats will attempt to salvage a split of the four-game series when the teams tangle for the final time Sunday at 11 a.m.

GAME 1 BOX SCORE

GAME 2 BOX SCORE