BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The CSUB baseball team withstood a late push by San Jose State to hold on for a 5-4 win Sunday, taking two of three from the Spartans over the weekend at Hardt Field.
It was the second consecutive 2-1 series win for the Roadrunners, who move to 9-9 on the season. San Jose State is also now 9-9 overall.
Despite a no-decision, CSUB starter Mike McCarthy had one of his best outings of the year, tallying eight strikeouts in 7.2 innings. The redshirt junior, who has been battling a neck injury, was in control from the start, surrendering just a pair of walks and eight hits for two earned runs.
Martin Medina pitched the final 1.1 innings, picked up his third win of the season and kept his ERA at 0.00 after striking out one, walking one and allowing one hit in six batters faced.
The Roadrunner offense, slowed by SJSU ace Blake McFarland on Saturday, jumped out early on Sunday starter Esteban Guzman, tagging the sophomore for three runs on four hits in the home half of the first. With one out, Kyle Richardson doubled to left center, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single to right by Medina. Jeremy Rodriguez drew a walk and Ryan McIntyre's single through the left side sent Medina across home plate. Jason Kudlock followed with a single through the left side and Rodriguez beat the throw to the plate, giving CSUB a 3-0 advantage.
Tim Quiery drew a leadoff walk to open the top of the third, advanced to second on a passed ball, to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Breyon Canez single to right. Canez moved to second on a wild pitch and attempted to score on Chris Carrillo's single to right, by CSUB's Ryan McIntyre gunned the ball to a waiting Rodriguez who tagged out the late-arriving Canez.
In the bottom of the third, Bakersfield pushed the lead back to three on a leadoff home run by Medina, his team-leading fifth of the season.
After four quiet innings for both teams, the Spartans came alive in the eighth, tying the score 4-4 courtesy of four hits and two CSUB fielding errors. But Bakersfield came back in the bottom of the inning with the game-winner. Joey Mills led off with a double down the left field line, advanced to third on a Boren fly out to right and beat the throw home on a Richardson fielder's choice to third.
CSUB totalled 12 hits, led by Kudlock's 3-for-4 performance. Richardson had two hits, both doubles, while Medina also added a pair of hits.
The Roadrunners head to Pullman, Wash., next week for a four-game series at Pac-10 member Washington State.
Score by Innings R H E
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San Jose State...... 001 000 030 - 4 9 0
CSU Bakersfield..... 301 000 01X - 5 12 2
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Win - Medina (3-0). Loss - Broussard (1-1). Save - None.
E - Richarson(2); Branske(2). DP - CSUB 1. LOB - SJSU 7; CSUB 11. 2B -
Richarson 2(5); Mills(2). HR - Medina(5).
