By Mateo Lopez, Mar. 22, 2022
On March 19, the CPP men’s baseball team edged the visiting Cal State East Bay Pioneers 12-7 in game one of a four-game series.
The Broncos generated 13 hits with six doubles and two triples, drew six walks and stole three bases. Eight Broncos recorded an RBI, with three Broncos recording two or more RBIs in the game.
“It was an exciting day,” said head coach Randy Betten. “We asked our guys to get in key spots and see how they handle it, and we got the swings today. It wasn’t just one guy in the lineup; everybody contributed in some fashion to help us be successful.”
In the first inning, the Broncos jumped to an early lead after catcher Johnny Pappas and infielder Ryon Knowles reached base off a one-out triple and a throwing error that led to three back-to-back-to-back doubles off Cesar Lopez, Ricky Nuñez and Nick Lugo to make it 4-0.
“That’s what we’ve been talking about as a team, as an offense,” said Betten. “That’s how we want to contribute. We’ve had some tough luck, but maybe now this gets us going a little bit.”
After scoring three runs through the second and third inning, the Pioneers were held scoreless through the fourth and seventh inning off pitching performances by starting pitcher Will Rudy and pitcher Scott Armstrong coming in for relief.
“I’m just trying to come in day-in, day-out and compete for my guys,” said Rudy. “All I want to do is get a win for my guys and compete at the highest level I can.”
Rudy finished the game with three earned runs, five hits allowed, one walk and nine strikeouts through six innings played to move to a 4-1 record in five starts.
“Obviously, it was good to get the win,” said Rudy. “I felt like I was battling through my (pitches). I didn’t feel like I had my best stuff. Pitch by pitch, that’s all it was.”
The Broncos kept the offense rolling in the sixth inning off a double to right-center field by designated hitter Jacob Lopez to send Watson home, making it 6-3. Jacob Lopez would advance to third base off a wild pitch. Pappas would then hit a sacrifice flyout to center field, allowing Jacob Lopez to tag up third base and head for home resulting in a 7-3 score.
The Broncos scored two more runs in the seventh inning off a fielding error by a line drive to the second baseman, and an RBI double to right field by Watson making it 9-3. The Pioneers would make it interesting late it in the game as the team rallied for four runs off a base hit to center field and a two-run home run to left-center field to make it 9-7.
In the eighth inning, the Broncos had the bases loaded with two outs after a base hit to center field, a wild pitch and back-to-back walks sending infielder Tyler Chaffee to the plate.
“At the moment, I was trying to clear my mind, not think about my at-bats prior and building off (pitches) like how I was earlier in the game and how I can adjust in that moment,” said Chaffee.
Chaffee hit a line drive to right-center field for his first triple of the season and cleared the bases that ultimately gave the Broncos the 12-7 win.
“I think we did a great job today at the plate as far as being aggressive, swinging the bat and being ready to hit,” said Chaffee. “I showed them they were on edge on defense, we made them play defense and sometimes they didn’t, and it helped us out.”
The Broncos would win both doubleheader games 8-5 and 3-2 on March 19 and 17-2 on March 20. CPP will return to Scolinos Field to face Biola University on March 22.
Featured image by Daniel Tapia.