California State University, East Bay’s men’s baseball team faces a critical series as the end of the regular season rapidly approaches.
The Pioneers, 22-24 on the season and 19-21 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play, excelled in the past two weeks. On April 18, the Pioneers were 15-23 heading into a four-game series against Sonoma State. Over the next 11 days, CSUEB won seven of its next eight games, putting the Pioneers in the thick of the playoff race.
CSUEB is among five teams fighting for the final three spots in the CCAA tournament, which begins May 8. The Pioneers will face UC San Diego in a crucial four-game series that begins Thursday. The series will span three days, with a double-header on Friday and the regular season finale on Saturday.
Six teams will make the CCAA playoffs, and the top three teams in the conference have secured spots. UC San Diego, (25-10 in CCAA, 30-10 overall), California State University, Monterey Bay, (29-15 in CCAA, 31-19 overall) and California State University, Stanislaus (25-17 in CCAA, 29-19 overall) are poised to make the playoffs.
The Pioneers are led at the plate by Senior outfielder Kyosuke Ushimaru, who leads the team with a .339 average, and 43 RBI. Four Pioneers, Steve Robinson, Adam Hollar, Ryan McSwain and Ushimaru, are hitting above .300 on the season. Sophomore reliever Mark Woinarowicz leads the team in ERA, (1.67) WHiP, (1.24) and saves (8).
Thursday’s series opener against UC San Diego will be at the Pioneer baseball field, with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.