Cal State LA's baseball team secured a crucial series-opening win against Cal State East Bay, with Holden Hungerford and Joel Martinez showcasing stellar pitching and Matthew Piotrowski delivering a decisive three-run home run in a 5-4 victory at Reeder Field. The Golden Eagles, now at 15-16 (9-12 CCAA), halted a three-game losing streak, surpassing Stanislaus State in the conference standings. Cal State East Bay (15-17, 7-13 CCAA) suffered their second consecutive defeat after a series win against Cal State San Marcos. Hungerford's standout 6 1/3 innings performance and Martinez's clutch final out sealed the win, maintaining the Golden Eagles' playoff hopes alive.

By the Numbers
  • Holden Hungerford pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing 7 hits and 2 earned runs, with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts.
  • Joel Martinez pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, recording his fourth save of the season with 3 walks and 6 strikeouts.
State of Play
  • Cal State LA sits at 6th place in the conference after the win, moving ahead of Stanislaus State.
  • The team will face Cal State East Bay in a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m., aiming to extend their series lead.
What's Next

Cal State LA looks to capitalize on their momentum in the upcoming doubleheader against Cal State East Bay, striving to secure a series victory and improve their conference standing.

Bottom Line

The Golden Eagles' pivotal win signifies a resurgence in form and a significant boost in their conference positioning, highlighting the impact of strong pitching performances and timely hitting in crucial moments on the path to potential playoff contention.