Sonoma Opens CCAA Championships with 5-1 win over Stanislaus
CHICO, Calif. – In a match-up of two of the conference’s top pitchers, Sonoma State senior left-hander Matt Means got the upper hand in the opener of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament Thursday afternoon at Nettleton Stadium in Chico.
Means (8-1) allowed one run over seven innings as he out-dueled CCAA Pitcher of the Year Marquis Fleming to lead Sonoma State to a 5-1 victory over Cal State Stanislaus.
The Seawolves (43-12) advance to a winner’s bracket game at 3 p.m. on Friday, while the Warriors (36-20) will attempt to remain alive when they play in an elimination game at 11 a.m.
The senior left-hander received all the run support he would need in the fifth inning as the Seawolves took a 3-0 lead.
Fleming (11-4) held Sonoma State hitless through four innings before David Adler broke up the no-hit bid with a single to center field to lead off the fifth inning.
Adler’s base hit sparked the three-run inning as Ian Bridges broke the scoreless tie with a sacrifice fly to right field and Konrad Thieme followed with a two-out two-run single through the left side.
Fleming, who entered the game with a five-game winning streak, pitched five innings, allowed four hits, walked four and struck out six. His final strikeout tied him with Jeff Blobaum (1982) for first place on the Warriors’ all-time single-season strikeout list with 112.
Sonoma State added to its lead in the seventh, scoring twice against the Cal State Stanislaus bullpen. Kris Haycock, who was hit by a pitch to open the inning, scored on a fielder’s choice and Thieme scored an unearned run after walking, advancing to third on a throwing error and scoring on a single to right field by Mark Pestorich.
Means exited the game in the eighth inning after allowing a leadoff walk to Kyle Loretelli, who came around to score the Warriors’ lone run on a double down the left field line by Jacob Thelen.
Travis Babin, who pitched the final two innings, relieved Means and, after retiring the first two batters he faced, hit Jake Oketani ahead of Thelen’s double.
In seven-plus innings, Means allowed five hits, one run, walked three and struck out four in defeating Cal State Stanislaus for the second time this season.
Adler and Dave Herman had two hits lead the Seawolves' seven-hit attack, while Adam Fonville had three of the Warriors' seven hits.
