SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – No. 5 seed Cal State San Bernardino completed a dramatic comeback Friday afternoon, scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat No. 3 seed Cal Poly Pomona 9-6 and claim the CCAA Baseball Tournament championship for the first time since 2002.
With the victory, the Coyotes secured the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II West Regional. Cal Poly Pomona, which advanced through the elimination bracket to reach the title game, will await the NCAA regional selections announced Sunday evening.
The Broncos appeared in control early after erupting for six runs in the opening inning.
Austin Duarte led off the game with a single before Julian Angulo doubled down the left-field line. Sebastian Arguelles followed with a two-run double to right-center to put Pomona on the board. Bryan Richman added an RBI single before Evan Nahra launched a two-run home run to center field. Tyler Blade then connected for a solo homer to left as the Broncos built a 6-0 lead before the Coyotes recorded the final out of the inning.
Cal State San Bernardino answered immediately in the bottom half.
Dom Dominguez singled through the left side before Juni Rodriguez delivered an RBI single to left-center. Keedan Nadeau followed with another run-scoring single to trim the deficit to 6-2 after one inning.
Both pitching staffs settled in over the next several frames as the Broncos maintained their four-run advantage. Pomona starter Matthew Leyva worked through five innings while striking out eight batters, but the Coyotes continued to chip away offensively.
San Bernardino cut into the lead in the fifth inning after Benji Solano singled to open the frame and later scored on Dominguez’s RBI single up the middle. Tyson Pettingill added another run on a fielder’s choice to bring the Coyotes within 6-4.
The Coyotes tied the game an inning later.
Nadeau opened the sixth with a bunt single and later scored after Jeremy Giesegh reached on a fielding error. Following a pitching change, Eddie Alfaro lined an RBI single to left-center to even the score at 6-6.
Both teams threatened over the final three innings but struggled to deliver the go-ahead run. The Broncos stranded a runner at third in the eighth after a double play ended the inning, while the Coyotes left the bases loaded in the seventh.
San Bernardino finally broke through in the ninth.
Nadeau opened the inning with another infield single before stealing second base. Greg Luna followed with a walk, and Solano delivered a go-ahead RBI double into left-center field to give the Coyotes their first lead of the afternoon at 7-6. Alfaro added insurance moments later with a two-run double to center field, extending the lead to 9-6.
Devyn Hernandez closed out the victory in the ninth to secure the tournament championship.
The Coyotes finished with 15 hits in the win, led by three-hit performances from Dominguez, Nadeau and Solano. Alfaro drove in three runs, including the decisive two-run double in the ninth inning.
For Cal Poly Pomona, Angulo collected two doubles while Nahra and Blade each homered during the six-run first inning. Richman reached base three times with a hit and two walks.
Cal State San Bernardino advances to the NCAA Division II West Regional as the CCAA automatic qualifier, while the Broncos await their postseason fate during Sunday evening’s regional selection announcement.
2026 CCAA All-Tournament Team
Devyn Hernandez, Cal State San Bernardino (MVP)
Eddie Alfaro, Cal State San Bernardino
Dom Dominguez, Cal State San Bernardino
Keedan Nadeau, Cal State San Bernardino
Kailer Sailer, Cal State San Bernardino
Julian Angulo, Cal Poly Pomona
Sebastian Arguelles, Cal Poly Pomona
Tyler Blade, Cal Poly Pomona
Andrew Campbell, Cal Poly Pomona
Austin Duarte, Cal Poly Pomona
Jake Larson, Cal State San Marcos
Zech Samayoa, Cal State San Marcos