Hayward, Calif. - The Lions traveled to Northern California for a three game set against the Pioneers from Cal State University East Bay. In the first match of the series, the Pride notched a 12-4 victory over the host team.
The Lions reached the scoreboard first, off a walk by Jason Dovel who advanced to third off a double to left field by Kyle Hardman. With runners in scoring position, Jerry Pena singled to right field scoring Dovel and advancing Hardman. After Pena stole second base, both he and Hardman scored off a single into left field by Bryson Rahier. The Pride never looked back after the three runs in the second inning.
In the third inning the Blue and Gold picked up right where they left off, scoring two runs off a double from Hardman, culminating the top of the inning highlighted with a walk and two advanced bases on balks.
The Lions once again blanked the Pioneers before putting an additional four runs on the board in the 4th and 5th innings. In the fourth inning, Bryce Arroyo scored on a right field single by Eric Sanchez. The Pride tallied another three runs in the next inning, begun by a double from Dovel, who scored on a sac fly from Pena. Arroyo reached base on a single, before scoring from a double by Rahier who later scored off an error by the opposing catcher.
The Lions took their 9-0 lead into the 7th inning, when the Pioneers erupted for three runs. The first came from Andrew Woolfe after a walk and two base hits, for their first score of the match. They later added two runs off a Jake Davis single.
The 8th inning started off with a bang, as Tyson Leighton tripled into right field. He was batted in off a single to center field from Jacob Domingos, who advanced to third base off a double from Dovel. Hardman got in on the act, as he grounded out to short stop, scoring Domingos in the process.
Cal State East Bay scored their final run of the game on a double from Nick McManus. Rex Blaylock had singled to open the inning, before advancing to second base on an error.
The Pride knocked in their final run of the match, a RBI ground out to the first basemen by Leighton. Avery had reached base on a single to right field, before advancing on a walk to Brandon Pesante and a wild pitch during Leighton's at bat.
The Lions were headlined by Hardman and Rahier who both had three RBI, two hits, and one run scored on the game. Dovel also scored two runs off two walks and two hits on the day. Center fielder Charlie Sharrer contributed two hits and one scoring run as well for Cal State East Bay.
The Pioneers were led by Davis who had two hits and two RBI in his three at bats for the game.
This victory brings the Blue and Gold's record to 3-2 on the season. Antonio Peraza received his first win on the season, as Paul Jinkens lost his first game for the Pioneers, who now stand at 0-1 on the year. Peraza went six innings, only giving up three hits and a walk. Jinkens lasted three innings, giving up five runs and three walks in the process.
The Lions and Pioneers will hit the field again Feb. 5th for a double header beginning at 11:00 AM.
