THIS WEEK
Bakersfield opens the 2010 season with a four-game homestand against Air Force. The season-opener is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. on Hardt Field. The teams return at 11 a.m. Saturday for a doubleheader, then conclude play Sunday at 1 p.m.
LIVE STATS
Live statistics are available for this weekend's four-game series in Bakersfield. The link can be found on gorunners.com through the baseball schedule page or the Live Stats link under the Multimedia icon on the home page.
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCH-UPS
FRIDAY, FEB. 19, 2010
CSUB: Mickey Jannis (RHP)
AIR FORCE: Alex Truesdale (RHP)
SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 2010 (Game 1)
CSUB: Jonathan Montoya (LHP)
AIR FORCE: Sean Carley (RHP)
SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 2010 (Game 2)
CSUB: Matt Reyes (RHP)
AIR FORCE: Evan Abrecht (RHP)
SUNDAY, FEB. 21, 2010
CSUB: TBA
AIR FORCE: Alex Baker (RHP)
'RUNNER REPORT
Bakersfield begins its second season of play after completing its inaugural season with a 13-37 overall record. The Roadrunners showed vast improvement in the second half of the season, going 9-17 in the final 26 outings. Highlights in the inaugural season included three wins over 2008 College World Series Champion Fresno State, a 15-inning, walk-off against UC Riverside and a 2-1 series victory at Nebraska.
The Roadrunners return 21 of 23 letterwinners from a year ago, including all starting position players and pitchers. Senior shortstop Kyle Richardson let CSUB with a .298 batting average, collecting 54 hits (third highest on the team) and 28 RBI's. Senior third baseman JJ Henry and senior second baseman Brandon Boren also return after each hitting .290 in 2009. Boren led the squad in hits (56) while Henry came on strong late in the year, hitting 15-for-45 (.333) over the final 16 games.
Other top returners include sophomore infielder/RHP Martin Medina, who let the team in all extra-base hit categories (13 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR) as a freshman, sophomore catcher Jeremy Rodriguez (.261, 22 RBI's) and sophomore outfielder Ryan McIntyre (.280, 53 hits, 12 2B, 16 stolen bases).
'RUNNERS ON THE MOUND
Senior RHP Mickey Jannis gets the season-opening start for a second consecutive year. Jannis had a team low 5.76 ERA, a team high 61 strikeouts and a 2-8 record in 2009.
Sophomore southpaw Jonathan Montoya gets the start Saturday morning after finishing 2009 with a team best four wins, including the program's first complete-game victory (against Fresno State). Newcomer Matt Reyes (RHP), a junior transfer from Irvine Valley College, will start Saturday afternoon.
SEASON OPENERS
The Roadrunners have just one season opener in their program's history, an 8-7 loss to Saint Louis on Feb. 20, 2009, at Hardt Field. In that game, the first-ever for CSUB baseball, the Roadrunners sormed back with a four-run bottom of the ninth, but cam eup just short in the one-run loss.
SCOUTING AIR FORCE
Air Force returns six starters and 14 total letterwinners from a 2009 squad that finished 14-37 overall and 3-18 in the Mountain West Conference last year. This year's Falcon squad is young, boasting 17 freshmen, seven sophomores, one junior and six seniors.
Senior designated hitter Matt Alexander led the Falcons with a .383 batting average in 2009. Alexander also had team highs in hits (82), doubles (19) and home runs (15). Classmate Addison Gentry is another hot bat returning for the Falcons. The lefty first baseman hit .347 with 13 doubles, two triples and nine home runs.
Collectively, Air Force hit .291, had a .365 on base percentage and struck out 344 times. Conversely, their opponents combined for a .369 average, .422 on base percentage and just 253 strikeouts.
SERIES HISTORY
This marks the first-ever meeting between the Roadrunners and Falcons in baseball.
TOGETHER AGAIN
Bakersfield is the fourth school coaches Bill Kernen and Jody Robinson have worked at together. The two were assistants at Cal State Fullerton in the late 1970's through 1981. During that time, the Titans, who had just made the transition to Division I in 1975, earned five NCAA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the College World Series and a national championship title in 1979. They also teamed up briefly in 1988, both serving as assistants to former Titan Head Coach Augie Garrido, this time at the University of Illinois. In 1991, Kernen was in his second season as the head coach at Cal State Northridge, leading the Matadors through the transition from DII to DI play. Robinson joined the staff as an assistant coach, helping CSUN to a 44–18–1 record, the West Regional championship game and a top 10 ranking in the final NCAA Division I poll in its first season of DI play.
HARDT FIELD
Coming from the 99 Freeway (north or south) exit at Ming Ave. and proceed WEST to Haggin Oaks Blvd. (approximately four miles). Turn right on Haggin Oaks to Camino Media. Turn left on Camino Media. Turn right into campus on Roadrunner Drive and park in Lot E or I. Hardt Field is located west of Lot E.
NEED MORE INFO?
For all of the most up-to-date information about CSUB Baseball and all other Roadrunner sports, check out the CSUB Athletics Web site at: GoRunners.com.
