Assistant Sports Editor
The ’Runners baseball team beat the Milwaukee Panthers 8-4 Friday at Hardt Field. Junior designated hitter Logan Trowbridge led the way for CSUB, going 2-4 with three RBIs, in his first game as a ’Runner.
Sophomore right fielder Chance Gusbeth slides into home plate Friday, Feb.14 against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
CSUB received seven innings of solid pitching, four from senior Taylor Aikenhead who also had five strikeouts and only allowed two hits in an abbreviated start.
“He was good, but he wasn’t really pounding the strike zone like he can,” said Head Coach Bill Kernan.
“I wasn’t very happy with my fastball command. I fell behind a lot of batters, but my changeup was really good and they had a tough time with that,” said Aikenhead.
The ’Runners also got three quality innings from junior James Barragan, who had three strikeouts and only allowed one hit.
Along with the pitching success, the hitting was also present. After the ’Runners scored one run in the first inning, courtesy of an RBI single from Trowbridge, CSUB exploded for four runs in the second.
“I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would be, actually,” said Trowbridge. “Being a DH, I got to sit back, relax and watch the first inning unfold, and I got my chance in the first.”
Senior shortstop Oscar Sanay and freshman second baseman David Metzgar each got an RBI with a double. Trowbridge drove in two more runs with a double of his own.
“I was anxious, never nervous. You’re only nervous when you don’t know what you are doing,” said Sanay.
The ’Runners would extend their lead to 8-0 following an RBI single from Sanay in the fifth and a two-RBI single from sophomore right fielder Chance Gusbeth in the seventh.
Despite the win, the team looked to build off some mistakes that were made, such as leaving the based loaded three times.
“We had some times when we could have made it a lot higher score. I think we were OK defensively,” said Kernan. “I felt that we were under control. We came out and did what we had to do in the beginning.”
The ’Runners were also without sophomore third baseman Mylz Jones, who is currently suspended for six games by the NCAA for an error in his paperwork. His brother, freshman Mahlik Jones, replaced him in the lineup.
On Saturday, the ’Runners defeated Milwaukee again 8-3. Gusbeth led the team with his first career home run and two RBIs. Sunday, CSUB completed the sweep of Milwaukee, winning 9-3.
Gusbeth and Sanay each drove in 2 RBIs.
CSUB will return home in a 3-game weekend series against Towson.
