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NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – A good ole fashioned slugfest took place at Matador Field as the CSU Bakersfield baseball team dropped its third straight game in a 13-7 loss against CSU Northridge.
“It’s been a tough haul this preseason,” said CSUB head coach Jeremy Beard. “We’ve tested our guys with some of the best teams around, but these guys have been road warriors.”
CSUN defeated CSUB 8-1 at Hardt Field on Feb. 27.
A four-run second inning and a three-run home run in the seventh inning by CSUN freshman Brandon Bohning proved to be the difference makers on Tuesday afternoon.
Bohning finished 3-for-4 at the plate with four runs batted in and three runs scored.
The Matadors (10-14) finished with 14 hits, including six extra-base hits (four doubles, two home runs) in the win.
The Roadrunners (10-16) took an early 1-0 lead when sophomore Austyn Tengan scored on a double play in the first inning.
CSUN took the lead back in the bottom half of the first when junior Joey Cooper hit a leadoff home run and senior Nolan Bumstead knocked a run-scoring double to right field.
In the top of the second, CSUB had runners on first and third with no outs. Senior Christian Denton got into a rundown between first and second as junior Sergio Robles attempted to score from third. Robles was subsequently cut down at the plate.
After a single and a walk loaded the bases, Tengan lined a double to left-center, scoring two and giving the Roadrunners a 3-2 lead. Freshman Daniel Carrizosa, trying to score from first, was nailed at home plate by a relay throw.
“I thought we came out with an aggressive offensive approach and we did a nice job of putting the barrel on the ball,” said Beard. “Those are some positives we can draw from.”
The Matadors took back the lead for good with their four-run outburst in the bottom of the second.
CSUB junior pitcher Isaiah Moten took the loss after he failed to record an out in the second inning and was pulled. Moten gave up five runs on four hits and two strikeouts in his only inning of work.
The Roadrunners bullpen pitched well in an extended role in the loss.
Freshman pitcher Kevin Altamirano pitched a career-high 3 1/3 innings relieving Moten.
Senior pitcher Kyle King worked a perfect seventh inning to continue his recent stretch of strong outings. He has given up only one earned run in his last seven outings.
“Kyle’s been good for us all year,” said Beard. “He wanted to come in today and he was excellent.”
CSUN senior pitcher Andrew Weston started and was also knocked out in the second inning. He gave up three runs (two earned), five hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings.
Freshman left-handed pitcher Wesley Moore earned the win in relief. He struck out three in 1 1/3 shutout innings of work.
CSUB senior Christian Denton, starting in only his sixth game of the season, reached base three times with a single, a double and a walk.
Up next, the Roadrunners will travel to San Luis Obispo to take on Cal Poly on Tuesday, April 3 at 6 p.m.
CSUB will open its Western Athletic Conference home schedule on Friday, April 7 at 6 p.m. against New Mexico State University.
All photos by Roxana Flores/ The Runner
