Cal Poly Pomona’s offense continues to shine in 10-8 win
POMONA ¾ Cal Poly Pomona’s baseball team has a revamped lineup this season, but that certainly hasn’t meant a decrease in run production.
The Broncos, with only one returning starting position player, hit double figures in runs for the third straight game and overpowered Concordia University, 10-8, Wednesday afternoon in a nonconference game at Scolinos Field. The Broncos (3-1) won their third straight game and got an explosive offensive showing once again. Cal Poly Pomona knocked out 10 hits, including four doubles, and overcame Concordia (3-1), which had 12 hits in the slugfest. In their last three games, the Broncos have scored 35 runs.
Jason Welch (Sr., Diamond Bar, Santa Ana JC) had three hits and five RBI to lead the barrage, while Jason Marcus (Sr., San Dimas, Mt. SAC) drove in three runs to give him a team-leading 10 RBI already this season.
Jose Munoz (Jr., Baldwin Park, Rio Hondo JC) hurled five strong innings of relief to pick up the win for the Broncos, while Ricky Wooten (So., Riverside, Rubidoux HS) allowed only one hit while recording the final five outs to pick up his first save of the season.
Concordia took advantage of three Cal Poly Pomona errors to take a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Daniel Candela and Steve Kelly had RBI doubles for the Eagles.
The Broncos responded with two runs in their half of the first. Welch singled to drive in Anthony Gonzales (Jr., Whittier, Santa Ana JC) and Marcus.
Concordia upped its lead to 5-2 in the second on a two-run single by Hank Lobel, who had three hits and three RBI to lead the Eagles.
Cal Poly Pomona took the lead for good with five runs in the second inning. Gonzales’ sacrifice fly and Marcus’ two-run single tied the game and Welch doubled in two runs later in the inning to give the Broncos the lead.
The Broncos added another run in the third when Benny Winslow (Jr., Tucson, Cuesta College) singled in a run and Welch doubled in a run in the fourth inning to make it 9-5.
Munoz pitched four scoreless innings before giving up a pair of runs in the seventh. Concordia sliced the lead to 9-8 in the eighth inning on a run-scoring single by Lobel, but Wooten came on for Eric Hing (Sr., La Canada, La Canada HS) and stranded Lobel at second base.
Winslow doubled to lead off the bottom of the eighth for Cal Poly Pomona and scored an insurance run on a sacrifice fly by Marcus.
The Broncos return to action Thursday with a home game against Biola University at 2 p.m.