Matthew Bates

Baseball

Yotes edge Seawolves for first CCAA postseason since 2002

Box score | Cal State San Bernardino presser | Sonoma State presser | Photo Gallery | Tournament Central >>>

Cal State San Bernardino received quality pitching, and Deshawn Johnson delivered a game-winning sacrifice fly to help lead Cal State San Bernardino to the 5-4 win and its first CCAA Tournament victory since 2002.
 
After building a 3-0 advantage, the Yotes saw their lead slip away as Sonoma State scored twice in the fifth and two more times in the sixth. The Seawolves loaded the bases with no out in the fifth, but Salazar was able to work out of the jam while surrendering two runs on a hit batter and a walk.
 
Sonoma State knocked Salazar out of the game in the sixth inning when it took a 4-3 lead on a sacrifice fly and a run-scoring double by Nick Simmons.
 
In the eighth, Gio Del Negro started the game-tying rally with a single, and Daryl Ruiz doubled him to third. After a fly out to right, Riley Parker grounded out to the shortstop to plate Del Negro as the game-tying run.
 
After Sonoma State went down in order in their half of the eighth, Cal State San Bernardino loaded the bases with one out, and Deshawn Johnson delivered a medium-deep fly ball to centerfield on an 0-2 count as Kyle Csakan raced home for the go-ahead run.
 
Oscar Rauda pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts to close out the win and earn his seventh save of the season. John Pfeffer (3-4) earned the win. He came into the game in the seventh and did not allow a base runner over his two innings. He struck out four.
 
The 2-5 hitters in the Yotes lineup combined to go 8-for-18 with two RBI and four runs scored. Csakan reached base in three of his five plate appearances. The CCAA co-leader in home runs doubled, and he was hit by a pitch while also scoring two runs. The Yotes outhit Sonoma State 11-6.
 
Cal State San Bernardino will now move into the double-elimination bracket. They will open play in there on Thursday, May 12 at 3:00 p.m. against the No. 2 seed, Cal Poly Pomona. Sonoma State is eliminated from the 2022 CCAA Baseball Championships.