Box Score: Sonoma State 7, #27 Chico State 1

ROHNERT PARK, Calif- In the most important four-game series of the season, the Sonoma State baseball team got off on the right foot, putting five runs up in the eighth inning to secure a 7-1 victory over No. 27 Chico State on Friday at Seawolf Diamond in Rohnert Park. Kenny Arnerich tossed eight innings and gave up just one run as the Seawolves moved into a tie for second place in the CCAA standings at 22-15 (31-16 overall) with the Wildcats (28-16 overall).

Sonoma State needs one more win against Chico State to be in the postseason hunt, but two more wins would clinch a sure spot in the CCAA Baseball Championship Tournament next weekend in Stockton.

Arnerich got off to a bit of a slow start in the first inning, allowing two consecutive one-out singles, but he worked himself out of the jam, forcing Adrian Bringas to fly out to Kyle Jones in center field and Matt Anderson to strike out looking. Arnerich would allow another base runner in the second, but he would pick Shane Kroker off first base.

A couple of defensive errors by the Seawolves in the fifth inning would put two Wildcat runners in scoring position, but Arnerich again worked himself out of trouble, forcing Cody Foster to groundout to Randy Wells at third. It would be the only time Chico State would get a runner beyond second base prior to the eighth inning.

Meanwhile, the Sonoma State offensive gave Arnerich some run support with a run in the third and a run in the fifth. Cameron Cook was forced into a double play with the bases loaded, but a run came across the plate to give the Seawolves a 1-0 lead in the third. Then, in the fifth, Garrett Gooselaw doubled down the left field line, a ball that was lined just fair between the third baseman Bringas and the foul line. It scored Wells, who doubled to lead off the inning, giving Arnerich a two-run cushion.

Approaching the 100-pitch mark, Arnerich ran into a bit of trouble in the eighth, allowing to base runners on a single and a walk to leadoff the inning. A failed pickoff attempt to second moved T.J. Yasuhara over to third, putting runners on the corners. However, Arnerich got Foster in a run down between first and second, to get the first out of the inning. Jackson Evans would groundout to Justin Serrao at second, but it brought home Yasuhara for the Wildcats' first run of the game. Arnerich would then walk the next two batters with two outs, but he got Phil Johnson to strikeout swinging to end the threat.

The Chico State pitching staff then fell apart in the bottom of the eighth, allowing five Sonoma State runs on just two hits, including a leadoff double to Cook. Three hit batsmen, two walks, including one intentional base on balls to O'Koyea Dickson, and one wild pitch, among the two hits, accounted for the five runs by SSU in the inning, putting the home team in prime position to notch the victory in game one of the four-game set between the two northern California rivals.

Brian Bordagaray came on in the ninth and allowed a one-out pinch-hit double to Kyle Leon, but that would be all the Chico State offense could muster. Arnerich improved to 7-1 this season as he allowed six hits, one run, three walks while striking out five.

Offensively, Gooselaw went 3 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored while five other Sonoma State players had a hit each. Wells scored two runs on the afternoon. The Seawolves outhit the Wildcats by one, 8-7. Yasuhara led the visitors with two hits in four at bats.

Sonoma State and Chico State will square off in game two of the four-game series on Saturday at Seawolf Diamond. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. It will be Senior Day at the ballpark and the Sonoma State seniors, who will be playing in their final home game, will be honored in a special pre-game ceremony. It will also be Rancho Cotati Little League Day at Seawolf Diamond and Rohnert Park Mayor Gina Belforte will be on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.