BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? Brandon Boren slammed a two-out walk-off single down the right field line, sending pinch runner JJ Henry across home plate giving the CSUB baseball team a 3-2 win over defending national champions Fresno State Wednesday at Hardt Field.
The win was Bakersfield's second straight over the Bulldogs and the third in five games, giving CSUB a 3-2 advantage overall in the series. The Roadrunners move to 7-21 on the season while Fresno State falls to 16-14 overall and 1-9 in road games.
On a mission after falling 17-12 to the Roadrunners on Tuesday, Fresno State jumped out to a 2-0 lead with single runs in the third and fourth innings. Catcher Trent Garrison led of the third with a single, advanced to second on a balk, was sacrificed to third and scored on a Gavin Hedstrom single.
In the fourth, Alan Amhady walked, advanced to third on a Steve Detwiler single and scored on a Garrison fielder's choice to first.
Kyle Richardson responded for the Roadrunners, blasting a lead-off home run long over the right field fence in the bottom of the fifth. Bakersfield's offense then put together a trio of hits to tie the game 2-2 in the sixth. With two outs, Jeremy Rodriguez knocked a full count single to right, then scored on a Martin Medina triple to right center.
Fresno State closer Gene Escat struck out Jason Kudlock and Joey Mills to open the bottom of the ninth, but freshman Eric Sanchez drew a walk to keep things alive for CSUB. JJ Henry replaced Sanchez on first and promptly moved to second on a wild pitch. With his teammate in scoring position, Boren hit the 3-2 offer down the right field line for the game-winning RBI.
Bakersfield starting pitcher Brandon Van Dam had his best outing of the season, fanning nine while walking five and scattering four hits for a pair of runs in 6 2/3 innings. Medina (1-1) pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, striking out two and walking one without giving up a hit to earn his first collegiate victory on the mound.
Boren, Rodriguez and Richard Escalera each had a pair of hits for CSUB, which also turned in its first errorless game of the season.
The Roadrunners continue their five-game homestand Thursday, beginning a three-game series against UC Riverside at 2 p.m. at Hardt Field.
Score by Innings R H E
--------------------------------------------
Fresno State........ 001 100 000 - 2 4 0
CSU Bakersfield..... 000 011 001 - 3 9 0
--------------------------------------------
Note: 2 outs, 1 runner LOB when the game ended.
Win - Medina (1-2). Loss - Escat (0-1). Save - None.
LOB - FS 8; CSUB 8. 3B - Medina(2). HR - Richardson(2). HBP - Hedstrom; Medina. SH - Soares(2). SB - Richardson(4). CS - Mendonca(1); McIntyre 2(4).
