FRESNO, Calif. ? The CSUB baseball team used a nine run eighth inning to overcome a 7-0 deficit and claim a 9-7 win over the University of Portland Wednesday at the 31st Annual Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic at Beiden Field.
The Roadrunners (4-7 overall) had seven hits, drew four walks and forced the Pilots to run through five pitchers in the big eighth inning rally.
Freshman Martin Medina led off the inning with a walk, then advanced to second on an Eric Sanchez single to left. Both runners advanced a base on a passed ball, then scored on a Mick Gaston single to left field.
Portland made it's first pitching change at that juncture, removing starter Scott Burris, who struck out one and walked two while giving up four hits and three earned runs in seven innings.
Bakersfield had no trouble adjusting to the change, however, as Brandon Boren and Kyle Richardson hit back-to-back singles to load the bases. The Pilots went back to the bullpen, inserting Keeler Brynteson for Brent Miller.
Stuart Smith quickly drew a walk to send Gaston across home plate and, with one out, Ryan McIntyre walked to score Boren and make the score 7-4. Portland then made its third pitching change, but to no avail, as pinch hitter Derek Geisinger batted an RBI single into center and Medina knocked a two RBI single into center, bringing the score to a 7-7 tie.
After a Sanchez strikeout, Gaston drew a walk to once again load the bases and Boren followed with another single to center, sending two more runs across the plate and giving Bakersfield the lead.
Portland was finally able to end the bleeding, with one final pitching change as Ben Pressler drew a ground out by Richardson.
Bakersfield's starting pitcher Jonathan Montoya recorded his second win of the season, despite giving up the seven runs on nine hits through the opening seven innings.
Reliever Jacob Valenzuela pitched the final two innings for the ?Runners, striking out a pair and not allowing a hit on his way to preserving the win and earning his first collegiate save.
Boren led the ?Runner offense with a 3-for-5 performance, along with two RBIs. Seven other ?Runners recorded a hit in the game, while Medina and Gaston had two RBIs apiece.
The second round of tournament action continues Thursday when Bakersfield takes on Buffalo at 2:00 p.m. Bakersfield will be looking for some revenge after the Bulls claimed a 7-6, 11-inning win over the Roadrunners in the tournament opener Monday.
Score by Innings R H E
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CSU Bakersfield..... 000 000 090 - 9 10 2
Portland............ 013 010 200 - 7 9 0
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Win - Montoya (2-0). Loss - VARCE, Z (1-3). Save - Valenzuela (1).
E - Boren; Medina. LOB - CSUB 8; Por 6. 2B - Smith; KAUPPILA, K; CARPENTER,
C. HR - SHAW, C; CARPENTER, C. HBP - KRAUS, B. SF - KRAUS, B.
