Just when the Chico State baseball team was about to escape with a win after being dominated by Cal State East Bay's Ethan Brodsky, the Pioneers denied it with a bases-clearing, three-run double in the 10^th inning to open the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series with an 8-5 win over the Wildcats on a chilly Friday evening at Nettleton Stadium.
 
In a game that saw both teams combine for 25 hits, each team had dramatic moments in the game.
 
Chico State fell behind 2-0 in the first inning and had to play catch-up after the Pioneers (11-12, 5-8 CCAA) scored their third run in the fifth inning. The Wildcats (12-9, 7-5 CCAA) had no answer to Brodsky in the first five innings. The right-hander was perfect through five innings with six strikeouts, including five straight. But it was the sixth inning he lost his perfect bid, and the collapse slowly began.
 
Cameron Mahaffy was hit by the pitch to lead off the sixth inning and Jeremy Keller ended the no-hitter with a single through a hole on the right side. Ernie Arambula moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and Jeffrey Ray hit into a groundout, but it scored Mahaffy to make it a 3-1 deficit.
 
East Bay got two runs in the seventh inning to build a 5-1 lead. Chico State answered back in the eighth inning in a big way. With two out, the Wildcats got consecutive hits from Jeremy Keller, Arambula, Ray, Andrew Crane and Elijah Jackson to score in two runs and keep the bases loaded. Brodsky got the strikeout to stop the bleeding. For now.
 
The Wildcats were down to their last out when the rally began. Mahaffy and Keller hit back-to-back doubles to get to within one run and Arambula came up clutch with a game-tying RBI single up the middle. Chico State had an opportunity to walkoff with the bases loaded but Brodsky got out of the threat with a groundout.
 
The Pioneers started trouble on the Wildcats bullpen going into the 10^th inning by loading the bases. A big double to deep center field cleared the bases and gave the Pioneers an 8-5 lead. Josh Verdon had to pitch out of a bases-loaded jam to keep it a three-run deficit.
 
Chico State was nearly gifted a rally opportunity after reliever James Colyer loaded the bases on back-to-back walks and a hit-by-pitch. Despite how shaky Colyer was, he held on by striking out the side with the bases loaded.
 
East Bay had 15 hits in the game while Chico State had 10.
 
The two teams return to 'The Nett' to play the 9/7-inning doubleheader Saturday. Game one first pitch is at noon.