BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? Coming off a near-comeback in its inaugural game, the CSUB baseball team picked up its first-ever wins, in back-to-back fashion, 4-2 and 8-4, over St. Louis University Saturday at Hardt Field.
Behind the sturdy arm of junior Erik Draxton in game one and some big hits in game-two, the Roadrunners improved to 2-1 on the young season.
In game one, St. Louis (1-2) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. With two outs, Danny Brock doubled to center, then scored on a single up the middle by Andrew Gurerra.
Bakersfield responded in the bottom of the inning, beginning with a Brandon Boren leadoff single. Kyle Richardson followed with a double to center, then advanced to third on an error by the center fielder, while Boren safely reached home. Martin Medina plated Richardson with a sacrifice fly to center to give CSUB a 2-1 lead.
The ?Runners added a single run in the fourth and another in the eighth to build a 4-1 advantage headed into the ninth.
Meanwhile, Draxton kept the St. Louis offense off the board, striking out five and scattering seven hits in 8 2/3 innings before giving way to reliever Martin Medina. With two outs and two runners on, Medina moved from third to the mound, giving up one hit before forcing a fly ball for the final out and earning his first save of the year.
In the nightcap, the ?Runners scored three runs each in the second and third innings, and added two more in the sixth before holding on for the 8-4 victory.
A Richardson base-clearing triple game CSUB a 3-0 lead early. St. Louis got one run back in the top of the third when leadoff J.D. Dunn led off with a walk, advanced to second and third on a balk and wild pitch, then scored on a ground out by Cody Cotter.
CSUB's Jason Kudlock then led off the third inning with a single and Ryan McIntyre followed with a single that moved Kudlock to third. Garrett Branske plated Kudlock with a double to center before Derek Geisinger blasted a two-run homer over the right field fence.
Bakersfield threatened to add to the 6-1 lead with two consecutive singles, but the Billikens stopped the rally with a double play to end the inning.
Medina led off the sixth inning with a solo home run and Geisinger's sacrifice fly later in the inning pushed the ?Runner lead to 8-1.
St. Louis manufactured a pair of runs in the seventh and one more in the ninth, but Medina scattered three hits and struck out four in the final two innings to preserve the Bakersfield win.
CSUB starting pitcher Jonathan Montoya earned his first collegiate win, striking out five with five hits and three runs allowed in seven innings of work.
The ?Runners had 15 hits in the game, led by Kudlock's 4-for-5 performance. Geisinger went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and Richardson had two hits with three RBIs.
Bakersfield takes on No. 30 preseason ranked UC Santa Barbara at 2 p.m. Sunday to conclude opening weekend action at Hardt Field.
GAME ONE
Score by Innings R H E
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St. Louis University 100 000 001 - 2 8 3
CSU Bakersfield..... 200 100 01X - 4 5 1
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Win - Draxton (1-0). Loss - Sever (0-1). Save - Medina (1).
E - Brock; Mancuso; Dunn; Medina. DP - SLU 1; CSUB 2. LOB - SLU 10; CSUB 6.
2B - Bennett; Brock; Richardson; McIntyre; Kudlock; Gaston. HBP - Rodriguez.
SH - Myers; Mills. SF - Medina. CS - Cotter; Dunn.
GAME TWO
Score by Innings R H E
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St. Louis University 001 000 201 - 4 8 2
CSU Bakersfield..... 033 002 00X - 8 15 2
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Win - Montoya (1-0). Loss - Buckham (0-1). Save - None.
E - Bennett 2; Richardson; Sanchez. DP - SLU 1. LOB - SLU 11; CSUB 12. 2B -
Braaten; Dunn; Branske; Mills. 3B - Richardson. HR - Medina; Geisinger. HBP
- Boren. SH - Sanchez. SF - Braaten; Geisinger. SB - Bennett 3.
