Reporter

The CSU Bakersfield baseball team lost a five-game win streak yesterday heading into to the third and final game of the Western Athletic Conference series against Sacramento State. The Roadrunners fell short to the Hornets for a second consecutive game, this time 8-6, at Hardt Field.

Trailing 6-5 in the top of the eighth inning, the Hornets loaded up the bases and junior Ian Dawkins hit what appeared to be a foul ball called fair to left field and ensued a two-run double taking the lead 7-6. This questionable call set a usually very composed Head Coach, Jeremy Beard off and the home plate umpire, John Schiller, who made the call, took the heat of it.

“The call on the eighth was obviously a big let down and clearly a foul ball that ultimately cost us the game,” said Beard.

Sacramento State (21-17, 9-3 WAC) would score another run on a wild pitch from CSUB (15-23, 5-7 WAC)

With a total of three scored in the eighth by the Hornets, the Hornets went into the ninth up 8-6. Neither team scored in the ninth and the Hornets came out victorious, 8-6 in the Sunday finale with the Roadrunners.

The Hornets scored the first three runs of the ball game, grabbing two in the second and one in the third. Down 3-0 at the bottom of the fourth, the Roadrunners put together a solid inning for themselves and picked up two runs off a couple RBI’s by junior Sergio Robles. Robles batted in seniors Jassen Oliver and Luis Martinez to bring the game to 3-2.

Then the action would cease until the top of the seventh inning and truly staged the game for a climatic finish. With the Hornets at bat, they put two runs across to take a commanding lead of the game 5-2. With a couple Hornets on the corners and two outs to play, the game was on the brink of getting out of hand till a much needed pop-up ball was caught by Oliver and gave the Roadrunners with some momentum headed to the bottom of the seventh.

“Well, I’m starting to get a little more comfortable out there in center field and those reads they are fun. It was just one of those [plays] where you get a good first step and I felt like I got a good jump on it and I got back there and made the play,” said Oliver.

That play, set for an electric bottom of the seventh for the Roadrunners. CSUB was able to score two of their four runs in a dramatic, two outs, bases loaded play and took the lead for the first time 6-5. Freshman Daniel Carrizosa, junior Jake Ortega, senior Andrew Penner, and Martinez all crossed the home plate. Penner hit the first crucial RBI to start the rally.

“Well, it was just a first pitch fastball and I saw good chance and took a swing,” said Penner.

CSUB freshman Elijah Parks started the game. He gave up four runs earned and struck out eight Hornets before he came out after five innings, on 103 pitches thrown. Freshman Davnote Butler (1-6) took the loss on the day when he came in the sixth to relieve Parks.

A no-decision was given to Parks according to the scoring sheet.

In their second game of the series, the Roadrunners lost yesterday, April 21, 3-1. The loss ended their five-game winning streak.

The Roadrunners travel to Los Angeles to take on Loyola Marymount University (18-22, 11-7 West Coast Conference) for a nonconference game on Tuesday, April 24 at 6 p.m. before heading to Seattle University (25-11, 8-4 WAC) to take on the Redhawks for a three-game WAC series, beginning April 27-29.

The Roadrunners next home game will be a nonconference game, Tuesday May 1, against UC Santa Barbara at 6 p.m.