BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? Utah starting pitcher Bryn Card held the CSUB baseball team's offense to two hits in the first seven innings of play, leading to a 7-3 loss for the Roadrunners in the final match-up of the four-game series between the two teams Sunday at Hardt Field.
Bakersfield, which won one of the four games, dropped to 3-5 on the season while Utah pulled to an even 4-4 overall.
Utah used the long ball to put runs on the board early in the game. C.J. Cron belted a solo shot in the top of the first and Cooper Blank added a two run homer in the second to give the Utes a 3-0 lead.
The Utes used three hits to add two more runs in the fourth, then added one more each in the sixth and seventh to go up 7-0.
Bakersfield benefited from an error by Utah's right fielder Rick Conru to get on the board in the seventh. With two outs, Martin Medina drew a walk and Stuart Smith followed with a single to right. Conru fumbled the ball deep in the outfield and the Bakersfield runners took advantage as Medina went all the way home and Smith settled in a third.
Down 7-1, Brandon Boren started a one-out rally in the eight with a single up the middle. Kyle Richardson followed with a single through the right side, moving Boren to third. Ryan McIntyre reached on a fielder's choice, which scored Boren to put the ?Runners within five. Jeremy Rodriguez kept things going with a single to center and Jason Kudlock plated McIntyre with a single through the left side. The rally forced Utah to insert closer Robert Chimpky, who got Medina to pop up for the final out of the inning.
Starter Sam Jones took the loss for CSUB, striking out five and walking one while giving up 12 hits and seven runs. Spenser Messmore pitched the final two innings, striking one and allowing a pair of hits.
Utah's Card struck out four and walked two in seven innings of work. He allowed just two hits and one run, moving to 1-1 on the season.
CSUB hits the road this week, traveling to face UC Davis on Tuesday and St. Mary's on Wednesday. Both games are scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.
Score by Innings R H E
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Utah................ 120 201 100 - 7 14 1
CSU Bakersfield..... 000 000 120 - 3 6 2
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Win - CARD (1-0). Loss - Jones (0-2). Save - None.
E - CORNU(2); Richardson(3); Jones(1). DP - CSUB 1. LOB - UT 7; CSUB 6. 2B - YAGI(2). HR - CRON(1); BLANC(1). HBP - CORNU; Boren; Sanchez. CS - JONES, A.(2); WALKER(1); JONES, Z.(1); Sanchez(1).
