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THIS WEEK
The Roadrunner squad will make history Friday, Feb. 20 when it takes on St. Louis University in the first of a three-game series, marking the first time a CSUB baseball team takes the field. First pitch of the 2009 season opener is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Hardt Field in Bakersfield. Games two and three are slated for Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. and approximately 2 p.m. CSUB also play a single game against UC Santa Barbara at 2 p.m. Sunday.
LIVE STATS
Live statistics are available for all CSUB home games. Follow all the action real-time by visiting GoRunners.com.
'RUNNER ROSTER
13 freshmen and 11 junior college transfers comprise Bakersfield's 2009 active roster. Of that group, six juniors and four freshman are listed in Friday's projected opening-game lineup.
FIRST STARTS
Juniors Mickey Jannis (RHP) and Erik Draxton (RHP) both found success as relief pitchers at their respective junior colleges, but have made the switch to starters for CSUB's squad. Jannis will open the series against St. Louis, while Draxton is penned to start Game 2.
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCH-UPS
CSUB VS. ST. LOUIS
GAME 1, FRIDAY, FEB. 20
CSUB: Mickey Jannis (RHP)
St. Louis: Scott Turmail (RHP)
GAME 2, SATURDAY, FEB. 21
CSUB: Erik Draxton (RHP)
St. Louis: Dave Sever (RHP)
GAME 3, SATURDAY, FEB. 21
CSUB: Jonathan Montoya (LHP)
St. Louis: Andrew Buckham (LHP)
CSUB VS. UCSB
GAME 1, SUNDAY, FEB. 22
CSUB: Sam Jones (LHP)
UCSB: TBD
CSUB PROJECTED LINE-UP
1. Brandon Boren 2B
2. Kyle Richardson SS
3. Martin Medina 3B
4. Jeremy Rodriguez C
5. Richard Escalera DH
6. Stuart Smith LF
7. Ryan McIntyre RF
8. Derek Geisinger 1B
9. Joey Mills CF
SCOUTING ST. LOUIS
St. Louis returns 10 letterwinners, including five starters from the 2008 squad. The Billikens went 24-29 overall and 9-17 in the Atlantic-10 last season. St. Louis is led by senior infielder Ryan Bennett, who hit a team-best .357 in 2008, earning honorable mention Atlantic-10 honors.
The Billikens also return the core of their pitching lineup in senior Scott Turmail (RHP) and juniors Dave Sever (RHP) and Zach Outman (RHP). Turmail went 7-6 with a 3.12 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 2008. Sever was 5-6 with a 5.21 ERA and a team-best 80 strikeouts.
SCOUTING UC SANTA BARBARA
UC Santa Barbara has earned a No. 30 ranking in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Top 40 Preseason Poll. The Gauchos return five starting position players and two starting pitchers from a 2008 squad that went 35-21 overall and 14-10 (3rd) in the Big West Conference.
The Gauchos' pitching staff boasts junior right-hander Mike Ford and sophomore left-hander Mario Hollands, both of whom earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team honors their rookie seasons. Hollans was also the 2008 Big West Pitcher of the Year after posting a 7-3 record and 4.03 ERA. Ford went 6-4 with a 2.96 ERA last season.
UCSB has a core of senior returning to the lineup, led by shortstop Shane Carlson, who hit .349 with 14 doubles and six homes runs a year ago.
ON DECK
CSUB's eight-game season-opening homestand continues Friday, Feb. 27-Sunday, Mar. 1 as the ?Runners host Utah in a four-game series. CSUB and the Utes square off in a single game at 2 p.m. Friday. The series continues with two games Saturday, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and concludes with a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Bakersfield's inaugural schedule has been listed as the 29th toughest in the nation, according to a strength of schedule ranking by boydsworld.com. CSUB has 21 games against 10 opponents ranked above them on the strength of schedule list, including No. 8 Cal Poly, No. 11 Pacific, No. 13 UC Davis, No. 14 UC Riverside, No. 16 Loyola Marymount, No. 18 UC Santa Barbara, No. 21 San Francisco, No. 22 Saint Mary's and No. 24 Cal State Northridge.
TOGETHER AGAIN
Bakersfield is the fourth school coaches Bill Kernen and Jody Robinson have worked at together. The two were assistants at Cal State Fullerton in the late 1970's through 1981. During that time, the Titans, who had just made the transition to Division I in 1975, earned five NCAA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the College World Series and a national championship title in 1979. They also teamed up briefly in 1988, both serving as assistants to former Titan Head Coach Augie Garrido, this time at the University of Illinois. In 1991, Kernen was in his second season as the head coach at Cal State Northridge, leading the Matadors through the transition from DII to DI play. Robinson joined the staff as an assistant coach, helping CSUN to a 44?18?1 record, the West Regional championship game and a top 10 ranking in the final NCAA Division I poll in its first season of DI play.
HARDT FIELD
Coming from the 99 Freeway (north or south) exit at Ming Ave. and proceed WEST to Haggin Oaks Blvd. (approximately four miles). Turn right on Haggin Oaks to Camino Media. Turn left on Camino Media. Turn right into campus on Roadrunner Drive and park in Lot E or I. Hardt Field is located west of Lot E.
TICKETS, PLEASE
Ticket information for all Roadrunner home baseball games may be found online at GoRunners.com or by calling the CSUB Athletics Ticket Office at (661) 654-BLUE.
NEED MORE INFO?
For all of the most up-to-date information about CSUB Baseball and all other Roadrunner sports, check out the CSUB Athletics Web site at: GoRunners.com.
