CSUB posts second straight shutout to defeat Air Force 5-0

Baseball March 11, 2010 CSU Bakersfield Athletic Communications

Roadrunners Host Wolf Pack in Weekend Series

THIS WEEK
The Roadrunners return to Hardt Field to host a three-game series against University of Nevada. The teams open play Friday, Mar. 12 at 2 p.m. Action continues Saturday at 1 p.m. and concludes Sunday at noon.

ON DECK
The Roadrunners conclude a season-opening stretch of five consecutive weekends at home with a three-game series against San Jose State. The teams face off Friday, Mar. 19 at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 20 at 1 p.m. and Sunday, Mar. 21 at 1 p.m.

LIVE STATS
Live statistics are available for all Roadrunner home games during the 2010 season. The link can be found on the CSUB baseball schedule page or the Multimedia link on the home page at gorunners.com.

ON THE AIR
Saturday's game against Nevada will be broadcast live on ESPN 1230 AM and via the internet at espnbakersfield.com. ESPN 1230 Program Director Corey Costelloe will provide the play-by-play, while Kevin Keyes will provide color commentary.

PROJECTED PITCHING MATCH-UPS
FRIDAY, MAR. 12, 2010
CSUB: Mickey Jannis (RHP) (1-0)
NEVADA: Beau Witsoe (RHP) (2-1)

SATURDAY, MAR. 13, 2010
CSUB: Jonathan Montoya (LHP) (1-1)
NEVADA: Chris Garcia (LHP) (1-0)

SUNDAY, MAR. 14, 2010
CSUB: Mike McCarthy (RHP) (1-2)
NEVADA: Brock Stassi (LHP) (2-1)

'RUNNER REPORT
The Roadrunners (5-7) got a pair of great pitching performances at San Francisco on Tuesday and Wednesday, but could not match the performance at the plate, falling 3-0 and 2-0 to the Dons. On Tuesday, Matt Reyes struck out eight, walked four and scattered eight hits for three earned run in 7.1 innings. On Wednesday, Brandon Van Dam was one strikeout shy of the program record, fanning nine, walking three and surrendering just three hits for one earned run in seven innings. But the Roadrunner offense managed just nine total hits in the two games, and only once had multiple hits in an inning.

SCOUTING NEVADA
Nevada enters the weekend with a 7-4 record. The Wolf Pack are 4-1 in their last five games, including one win over Pacific, one over UC Davis and two against Central Arkansas.

The Wolf Pack are hitting .326 as a team and have three players batting over .400, led by junior LHP/OF Brock Stassi with a .485 average. Junior infielder Nick Leid is hitting .481 and senior outfielder Westley Moss is hitting .420.

On the mound, the Nevada pitching staff holds a combined 5.06 ERA. Opponents are hitting .306 against the Wolf Pack and have collected 34 total extra base hits. Nevada also holds just a 1.5 strikeout to walk ratio (51 K's, 34 BB's) on the season.

SERIES HISTORY VS. NEVADA
The Roadrunners and Wolf Pack met for a three-game series in Reno, Nev., in 2009. Nevada claimed the series sweep, winning 7-6, 9-4 and 13-6 on its home field.

BALL CONTROL
One major area of concern last season was the pitching staff's strikeout to walk ratio. During that inaugural season, the Roadrunners finished with a 1.2 strikeout to walk ratio (322 K's, 261 BBs). Through 13 games this season, the Roadrunners have doubled that ratio, tallying 2.4 strikeouts for every walk allowed (100 K's, 41 BB's). Those figures have helped the staff ERA hold at 4.21 so far this year, as opposed to last season's 7.63 ERA.

IN NEED OF A HIT
After recording double-digit hits in each of their first six games, the Roadrunners have reached double digits just once in their last six games. As a result, they have seen their batting average drop from a high of .385 to a low of .279.

SNAP THAT STREAK
The Roadrunners won their first four games of the season, and five of their first six, but have faltered of late, dropping their last six straight.

WALK-OFF
Brandon Boren recorded the second walk-off hit of his Roadrunner career on Feb. 28 against Central Michigan. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the senior second baseman, sent a bloop hit just past first base to score Kevin Younger and give CSUB the 7-6 come-from-behind win.

Boren's first walk-off hit as a Roadrunner took place back on Apr. 8, 2009, when his single down the right-field line scored JJ Henry, giving CSUB a 3-2 win over then defending College World Series champion Fresno State.

FIVE-HIT OUTING
As part of his 12-for-20 performance on opening weekend, Brandon Boren tied his own program record with five hits in one game. He went 5-for-6 with two RBIs and three runs scored in the second game of the doubleheader on Feb. 20 against Air Force. Those numbers are an exact match to his performance last year in CSUB's 17-12 win over Fresno State on Apr. 7. He is the only Roadrunner to achieve five hits in one game.

OPENING WEEKEND HOME RUN DERBY
Not necessarily known as a home run-hitting team, the Roadrunners tallied seven long balls in their first four games this season. They had four in the season-opener alone, then added three more in the Feb. 20 doubleheader. Martin Medina and JJ Henry have two homers apiece while Stuart Smith, Jason Kudlock and Ryan McIntyre have added one each. For reference, in 50 games played in 2009, the Roadrunners had 36 total home runs.

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.

COLLECT YOUR BASEBALL TRADING CARDS
Collect the Official 2010 CSUB Baseball Trading Card set when six different cards are be unveiled at each remaining Saturday home contests. The first 100 fans through the gate each day will receive one set of six cards. Fans looking to collect the entire set must be one of the first 100 fans at every Saturday home game.

The giveaway begins this Saturday, Mar. 13 when the Roadrunners take on the University of Nevada. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. this Saturday and first pitch is 1 p.m.

The remaining card giveaway dates include Saturday, Mar. 20 versus San Jose State, Saturday, Apr. 3 versus Fresno State, Saturday, Apr. 17 versus UC Davis and Saturday, May 15 versus University of the Pacific. All Saturday games begin at 1 p.m. with gates opening at 11:30 a.m.

NEED MORE INFO?
For all of the most up-to-date information about CSUB Baseball and all other Roadrunner sports, visit GoRunners.com.

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