FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
ABILENE, Texas – California State-East Bay took advantage of McMurry early and jumped out to an early 11-0 lead before holding on for a 14-7 win at Walt Driggers Field Wednesday night. Mark Marelich hit a third inning grand slam, Jesus Muela had five hits and three RBI and Matt Veira moved to 10-2 on the mound as CSUEB rolled to a win in the first day of the NCAA Division III West Region Baseball Championships.
The Pioneers jumped on McMurry starter Cody Curry and touched the junior starter up for seven runs (five earned). Curry left in the third with the bases loaded and on reliever Arnold Toombs’ first pitch, Marelich hit a towering homer to left field to clear the bases.
Every hitter in the East Bay lineup had a hit besides Jacob Haberman and seven of the nine hitters in the Pioneer order drove in a run. Veira threw six innings, allowed four runs walked two and struck out eight for CSUEB while John Volk closed the final three innings and allowed three runs.
Toombs threw five innings, surrendered 10 hits, seven runs, five walks and three strikeouts. Kyle Martin and Cory Davis each threw scoreless innings in relief for McMurry to close the game.
Steven Yurchick had two hits and drove in two while Thomas Beckham was also 2 for 4 with two RBI in the losing effort for McMurry.
The Pioneers improved to 27-14 on the season and move on to play Trinity at 7 p.m. Thursday. McMurry faces elimination against the No. 1 team in the nation, Chapman, at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. McMurry fell to 29-18 on the year and now is 1-7 all time in NCAA regional playoff games.
