By Esteban Ramirez
Sports Editor
Despite giving up eight walks and having two errors, the CSU Bakersfield baseball team completed a sweep of the University of Texas-Pan American with a 4-1 Western Athletic Conference win at Hardt Field on April 12 and extended its winning streak to seven straight.
“We played poorly today, we wouldn’t have beaten a great team,” CSUB coach Bill Kernen said to gorunners.com. “If we do what we did today, we won’t be able to beat good teams to become a champion. We need to play our best game every time out.”
Though the Roadrunners (20-14-1, 8-3-1 WAC) had their struggles, they also received a one-hit performance from senior pitcher Nick Rogowski and sophomore pitcher Steven Gee.
Rogowski started the game and got an early cushion as CSUB scored four runs in the first inning. With senior Jordie Hein and sophomore Joey Sanchez on base, CSUB started its scoring output with a sacrifice bunt from sophomore David Metzgar, which scored Hein. After a fly out by sophomore Max Carter and a walk for sophomore Ryan Grotjohn, junior Soloman Williams hit a two-run double, which scored Sanchez and Grotjohn. Senior Chance Gusbeth followed with a single through the left side that scored Williams and gave CSUB a 4-0 lead over UTPA (12-22, 0-12 WAC) after the first inning.
Despite that cushion, it was an easy day for Rogowski. He pitched 4 1/3 innings but had eight walks. He was able to pitch around the Broncs lineup and didn’t surrender any hits and only allowed one run. With the score 4-1 in the top of the fifth and Rogowski just walking back-to-back batters to load the bases with one out, Gee relieved him and popped up Broncs’ senior Logan Landon and sophomore Victor Garcia Jr. to get the Roadrunners out of the jam.
Gee pitched the last 4 2/3 innings and had zero walks, only gave up one hit and allowed no runs. Gee (4-2) also got the win.
Grotjohn led the way for CSUB as he went two for three hitting and scored one run. Williams added one hit and two RBIs.
On April 11, CSUB beat UTPA 15-3 behind a strong day from junior Mylz Jones.
Jones went three for four hitting, scored two runs and had four RBIs. Grotjohn also had a good day hitting as he had two hits, including a two-run home run in the first inning.
CSUB built an early 3-0 lead after the first inning and pushed the lead up to 15-0 before UTPA managed to score in the top of the sixth.
Senior pitcher James Barragan (4-3) earned the win as he had six strikeouts and only gave up two runs in six innings of work.
On April 10, the Roadrunners beat the Broncs 5-1 behind a complete game from senior pitcher Hayden Carter.
Carter (4-3) gave up nine hits, but only allowed one run and finished with 132 pitches on the day, which was only one away from his season-high. Carter also was able to retire the first 14 out of 15 batters he faced.
Carter got some help from his offense giving him a cushion to work with. Metzgar went two for three hitting and Williams and Gusbeth both had one hit and drove in two runs.
CSUB is scheduled to play at Sacramento State University starting on April 17.
