Box Score: Sonoma State 8, Cal Poly Pomona 3

POMONA, Calif- Just six pitches into the ball game, senior Alex Todd belted a two-run home run to left center before adding another two-run shot in the fourth inning, leading undefeated Sonoma State to a 8-3 victory over Cal Poly Pomona on Friday afternoon at Scolinos Field in Pomona. The Seawolves, ranked at No. 15 in this week's Collegiate Baseball Newspaper/NCAA Division II Top 30 Poll, extend their best start in school history to 10-0 overall (5-0 in the CCAA) while the Broncos fall to 10-5 (4-5 CCAA).

All 11 runs scored in the ballgame were scored in the first four and a half innings, then it became a pitching duel from then on out.

After the two run home run by Todd in the top of the first, Cal Poly Pomona punched back with three runs in their half of the first off of SSU starting pitcher Thomas Lee. The Broncos led the bases with no outs, but got a run in on a double play ball off the bat of Chris Miller. Tyson Edwards and Jordan Whitman then had consecutive RBI singles, giving CPP the 3-2 lead.

It would be short-lived, though, as Kyle Cerrudo and Steven Filippi brought home a couple of runs in the top of the second to give the Seawolves the 4-3 lead. The RBI groundout by Filippi would end up being the game-winner, but Sonoma State wasn't finished putting runs on the board. In the third, Randy Wells flew out to center field, but scored O'Koyea Dickson on the deep fly, giving SSU the 5-3 lead.

Then, in the fourth, #Filippi# hit a RBI single to score Cerrudo before Todd came up to deliver another two-run shot as the Seawolves led 8-3.

From then on, it was all pitching. Lee (1-0) settled down after giving up three runs in the first, scattering just three hits the rest of the way. He earned his first victory of the season, walking three and striking out three. Lee gave way to Ian Ocon in the sixth and Ocon shut down the Bronco offense, allowing just one hit through his four innings of work. He walked one and struck out six.

Filippi, Todd, Dickson and Cerrudo had two hits each, accounting for eight of the ten Sonoma State hits on Friday. Kyle Jones and Scott Collins had the other two hits.

For Cal Poly Pomona, Casey Yokubaitis (2-1) gave up all eight runs in just three and a third innings of work, before Scott Sibley took over in relief. Sibley closed out the game and allowed just two SSU hits in his five and two thirds innings of work. Whitman went 3 for 4 for CPP with a RBI.

Sonoma State and Cal Poly Pomona will continue the four-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. The two teams will then wrap up the series with a single game on Sunday, also starting at 11 a.m.