COLUMBIA, Mo. ? The CSUB baseball team posted an early 4-0 lead on No. 14 Missouri, but the Tigers put together a pair of big innings, scoring a combined seven runs during the fifth and sixth, leading to a 8-5 Roadrunner loss Sunday at Taylor Stadium.
Bakersfield (11-34) took advantage early opportunities to score, beginning with a single run in the second. Martin Medina drew a one-out walk, advanced to third on a failed pick off attempt at first and scored on an RBI ground out to second by Stuart Smith.
The Roadrunners added three more in the top of the third to go ahead 4-0. Joey Mills led off with a single to short, advanced to third on a second failed pick off attempt by Mizzou pitcher Ryan Clubb. Kyle Richardson then singled into shallow left, sending Mills across home plate. Brandon Boren was hit by a pitch and, after a Jeremy Rodriguez fly out for the first out, Mizzou brought in Kelly Fick from the bullpen.
Boren and Richardson moved to second and third on a double steal, then both scored on a two-RBI single through the left side by Richard Escalera.
In the bottom of the third, Mizzou got a leadoff single by Ryan Ampleman and Garrison McLagan was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second, but Michael Liberto flew out to center and Austin Holt grounded into a 6-4-3 double play as Bakersfield escaped without allowing a run.
In the fifth, the Tigers' Kyle Mach led off with a single to left, moved to second on a walk by Steve Gray, to third on a fly out to left by Ampleman. Liberto walked to load the bases with two outs and Holt was hit by a pitch, sending Mach home for Mizzou's first run of the game. Ryan Lollis drew a four-pitch walk to send Gray home and Greg Folgia came up with a two-RBI single through the left side to tie the game, 4-4.
After giving up a leadoff triple to Mach to open the sixth inning, Bakersfield starter Jonathan Montoya was replaced by Sam Jones. Jones surrendered an RBI double to right-center by Gray, giving Mizzou the go-ahead run, 5-4. Ampleman followed with a single up the middle, sending Gray home and McLagan knocked a sacrifice fly to left as the Tigers took a 7-4 lead.
Derek Geisinger led off the eighth by being hit by a pitch, Jason Kudlock drew a walk and Joey Mills reached on a bunt single to third to load the bases for Bakersfield and forcing the fifth pitching change by the Tigers. Richardson hit an RBI fielder's choice to second, cutting the ?Runner deficit to 7-5. That was all Bakersfield would get out of the inning, however, as Boren hit into a 6-4-3 double play.
Mizzou (32-23) pushed its lead back to three in the bottom of the eighth when a single, walk, hit by pitch and finally an RBI walk by Folgia sent pinch runner Rex Meyr home.
Montoya (4-6) took the loss for the ?Runners after striking out four, walking six and scattering four hits in five innings. Jones struck out one while allowing four hits in 2 1/3. Erik Draxton struck out one in the final 2/3 inning.
Escalera and Medina had three hits each for Bakersfield, while Escalera and Richardson had two RBIs apiece.
Tigers' reliever Ian Berger improved to 3-3 on the season after striking out three and allowing just two hits and no runs in three innings. The ?Runners forced starter Ryan Clubb to the bench after just 2 1/3 innings in which he committed two errors and allowed one walk and two hits for four runs.
Bakersfield returns to Hardt Field Tuesday for its final home game of the season, a 3 p.m. start against Cal State Northridge.
Score by Innings R H E
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CSU Bakersfield..... 013 000 010 - 5 10 3
Missouri............ 000 043 01X - 8 8 2
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Win - Berger (3-3). Loss - Montoya (4-6). Save - Buehler (7).
E - Richardson(17); Mills(7); Draxton(7); Clubb 2(2). DP - CSUB 2; Missouri 3. LOB - CSUB 10; Missouri 8. 2B - Gray(11). 3B - Mach, K.(2). HBP - Boren; Geisinger 2; Mills; Holt 2; McLagan. SF - McLagan(1). SB - Richardson(7); Boren(2); Geisinger 2(3); Lollis(14). CS - Gray(2).
