One of the more magnificent runs in Chico State baseball history came to an end Saturday in Cal State East Bay's 5-1 win against Chico State. With the victory, the Pioneers saddled Wildcats starter Casey Costello with his first loss in 23 career starts.
 
Three Chico State errors behind Costello led to three unearned runs for the Pioneers, who won the opener of a four-game series.
 
The Wildcats dipped to 13-8 overall and 9-6 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Cal State East Bay improved to 8-11 overall and 5-8 in the CCAA. The series continues with a doubleheader Sunday at noon before concluding with a single game Monday at noon.
 
Costello, now 3-1 this season and 15-1 as a Wildcat, was not as sharp as usual. The senior right hander allowed eight hits in six innings of work. But he pitched well enough to keep Chico State in the game, striking out five and walking only one.
 
Cal State East Bay took a 2-0 lead in the third thanks in part to a pair of two-out errors.
 
After the Wildcats cut the lead in half on RJ Hassey's squeeze bunt in the fourth, the Pioneers scored twice more in the fifth. The first run came on Costello's wild pitch and the second on the Wildcats' third error of the day.
 
Meanwhile, Cal State East Bay's Alex Vesia was rolling. Making his first relief appearance of the season, Vesia allowed just the one unearned run on three hits in six innings of work.
 
Chico State reliever Kenton Carruthers also pitched well, allowing one run on two hits in three frames.