Cal Poly Pomona offense is on fire again in 14-14 deadlock
POMONA ¾ Cal Poly Pomona’s baseball team enjoyed yet another big offensive day, but this time it was only good enough for a tie.
The Broncos reached double figures in scoring for a fourth straight game and needed every bit of offense they could muster. Cal Poly Pomona overcame an early 6-0 deficit and a late 14-12 hole and rallied for a 14-14 tie with Biola University Thursday afternoon at Scolinos Field. The game was called after nine innings because of darkness.
Cal Poly Pomona (3-1-1) earned the tie with a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the ninth. Anthony Gonzales (Jr., Whittier, Santa Ana JC) doubled in one run to cut the deficit to 14-13 and Matt Stevens (Fr., Riverside, Rubidoux HS) singled in Gonzales with the tying run.
The teams combined for 28 runs, 34 hits and nine errors in the game.
Gonzales had a big day for the Broncos, banging out four hits and driving in three runs. Jason Welch (Sr., Diamond Bar, Santa Ana JC), who drove in five runs on Wednesday, had two more RBI on Thursday. Brian Ziarnick (Jr., Chino, Fullerton JC) also drove in three runs and scored two for the Broncos. Eight Cal Poly Pomona players picked up hits.
The game got off to a wild start with the teams combining for 11 runs in the first inning. Biola scored six runs in its half of the inning, but the Broncos countered with five in their half of the inning. Cal Poly Pomona starting pitcher Tony Ortiz (Sr., Rancho Cucamonga, Mt. SAC) gave up six runs in the first and two more in the second, but settled down and was able to make it through five innings. He gave up nine runs – six earned – and left trailing, 9-5.
Cal Poly Pomona cut Biola’s lead to 9-8 in the bottom of the fifth, but the Eagles countered with a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to build a 12-8 advantage.
The Broncos finally caught the Eagles with a four-run seventh inning. Ziarnick had a two-run single in the inning, while Gonzales contributed a two-run double to tie the game.
Biola came back and took a 14-12 lead with a pair of eighth-inning runs. Ricky Wooten (So., Riverside, Rubidoux HS) pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Broncos, giving his team a chance to rally, which, as it turned out, it did.
With two outs and no one on base, Victor Yoshida (Jr., Encintas, Palomar College) drew a walk. Then, after Gonzales’ foul pop-up was dropped, Gonzales promptly doubled to the centerfield wall to score Yoshida and make the score 14-13. After Gregor Connors (Sr., Poway, Palomar College) walked, Biola brought in reliever Gary Gallegos and Stevens promptly singled to center to score Gonzales with the tying run. Pinch runner Jose Munoz (Jr. Baldwin Park, Rio Hondo JC), though, was thrown out at third base to end the game.
Biola had 18 hits in the game and got three RBI from right fielder Matt Parish. Mark Wade, Sam Orr, Mike Tomarelli and Carl Galloway drove in two runs each.
Cal Poly Pomona will return to action next Friday, Feb. 8, against Mesa State in a 2 p.m. contest at Scolinos Field.