Sports Editor
After a 2-2 record at home, the CSU Bakersfield baseball team was reaching for greater heights on the road. The Roadrunners did not earn the results they wanted in a three-game set at Seattle University and a single game a Loyola Marymount University. They left Seattle and LA with one win and three losses.
Game 1
Freshman pitcher Andrew Ciandro (1-0) showed off his best stuff in a game 1 win at Seattle U. He came into the game in the seventh inning with two on, and no outs. He allowed a single, then relaxed and retired all three of the next Redhawks. Ciandro earned his first victory, as he struck out three Seattle U hitters in his three innings and was perfect in the ninth. CSUB won 7-5.
“Ciandro has been working extremely hard at his new delivery,” said Head Coach Jeremy Beard to gorunners.com.
“He’s been waiting for an opportunity and took complete advantage tonight. He’s competitive by nature and now has confidence in what he is doing. It is exciting to see that kind of growth out of a freshman.”
Beard also said to gorunners.com that the Roadrunners limited their strikeouts against a good arm of All-American redshirt-junior Tarik Skubal.
Junior Noah Barba hit 3-5 and two RBIs, at left field. Luis Martinez, senior, also propelled the Roadrunners to victory with two hits and two RBIs.
Game 2
The Roadrunners could not get past the Redhawks seven runs in the first inning in Seattle. They trailed 8-0 after six innings. Naithen Dewsnap was not his usual self. The senior allowed walked three and had four earned runs, three unearned because of errors from the Roadrunners.
Senior Andrew Penner went 3-5 in the game and Ryan Koch, junior, went 2-4, but it was not enough to outlast the patience from Seattle U. They drew six batters on walks and capitalized on CSUB’s errors. The Roadrunners lost 8-6.
Game 3
Freshman Elijah Parks struggled on the mound in surprising outing, giving up 5 runs on 5 hits, in 2 1/3 innings before he was relieved by freshman Davonte Butler in the third. Parks was replaced after Jake Cosgrove, freshman, hit a three-run home run to left field, ending Parks’ day. The Roadrunners attempt at a comeback came up short. Trailing 6-0, they rallied in the fifth, Daniel Carrizosa singled to left field and scored Jassen Oliver. Freshman Evan Berkey and Noah Barba added their own singles to cut into the Redhawks’ lead, 6-3.
In the very next inning Seattle U responded with three more runs, and added another in the seventh, which finalized the score 10-4.
Loyola Marymount
CSUB hitters could not find their groove against a formidable pitching staff at Loyola Marymount. CSUB lost 4-1.
Six pitchers combined to keep the Roadrunners from hitting well. CSUB combined hit five hits. Lion freshman Josh Robins (2-1) earned the win. He threw 18 pitches and allowed two hits.
The Roadrunners prepare for the WAC Tournament, playing three more WAC series before the May 23-27 tournament in Mesa, Arizona.
CSUB hosted UC Santa Barbara by the time of this publication, on Tuesday, May 1. Check the runneronline.com for updates.
They will host Grand Canyon University for a three-game set beginning on May 4 at 6 p.m at Hardt Field.
Photo by Aaron Mills/ The Runner
