Vieira pitches pioneers to win

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Apr 20, 2008 | by Emily Wirt

HAYWARD -- There is no denying that the Cal State University East Bay baseball team is having a strong season.

And with 18 seniors leaving at the end of this year, the Pioneers (20-12) are hoping to advance to the playoffs. The Pioneers showed their quality with a 3-2 win Saturday over Menlo College, another team in the playoff hunt, at Cal State's East Bay Invitational.

Matt Vieira (7-2) had his best outing of the season for Cal State, allowing only five hits and one run and striking out four over eight innings.

"I felt good today,"said Vieira, who was given the team's coveted "money ball" at the end of the game. "I just tried to force contact today and let my defense do the work, and of course that's exactly what they did."

On a windy day, Cal State was able to back Vieira with solid hitting.

Menlo started senior star Mike Ryder (9-2), but the Pioneers had no problem compiling seven hits.

Center fielder Jesus Muela came up big with an RBI, and also scored the first run with a headfirst slide into home just ahead of the ball.

Left fielder Marco Cartagena was most lethal on offense, going 2- for-4 with a solo home run off the trees in left field.

In the ninth inning, the Pioneers showed one reason why the loss of so many seniors next year won't leave them short.

Freshman closer Cody Hazen came into the game and struck out two, earning his eighth save, a Pioneers' season record.

When asked about his achievement, Hazen was certainly surprised.

"I had no idea about that," he said. "I love the pressure of closing, but I'm just happy that the team is winning."

And the Pioneers certainly are winning. They boast an 18-9 record against other Division III opponents -- a statistic that Cal State hopes will help get them into the playoffs.

"We still have games left to play, though," Hazen said.