NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — The CSUB baseball team scored the first run and the last run of the game, but gave up a three-run fifth to Cal State Northridge in a 3-2 loss Sunday at Matador Field.
The Roadrunners dropped to 14-16 on the season while the Matadors snapped a seven-game skid and moved to 17-14 overall.
Bakersfield grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Jeremy Rodriguez knocked a two-out single through the left side and scored on a Jason Kudlock triple to right-center field.
Roadrunner starting pitcher Jonathan Montoya (2-4) had to work his way out of a jam in the fourth. With one out, Ryan Pineda walked and stole second, but was tagged out at home by Rodriguez on a single to right by Nate Ring. The Matadors' Brad Decanter was hit by a pitch and a balk by Montoya moved both runners into scoring position, but Montoya got Marty Bowen to ground out to end the inning.
In the home half of the fifth, Montoya hit leadoff batter Jason Dabbs. Chris Allen followed with a double down the left field line, moving Dabbs to third. Connor Rhodes reached on an RBI-fielder's choice to short, then stole second, TS Reed was hit by a pitch and Justin DeMarco walked to load the bases.
Brandon Van Dam relieved Montoya and immediately released a wild pitch, allowing Rhodes to score. Van Dam then walked Pineda to reload the bases. Spenser Messmore came out of the bullpen to replace Van Dam and gave up a sacrifice fly to right before retiring Decanter with a strikeout. But the damage was done as Cal State Northridge carried a 3-1 lead into the 6th.
Bakersfield battled back in the seventh when Kevin Younger led off with a walk, advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches and scored on a sacrifice by Kyle Richardson, cutting the Matador lead to a single run, 3-2. But Northridge relievers Shawn Wilyman and Justen Gorski held the Roadrunners in check the remainder of the game, not allowing a hit in the final three innings.
Montoya took the loss for Bakersfield, giving up four hits and two walks in 4.1 innings. Messmore pitched three effective innings, retiring nine straight before giving up one hit in the eighth.
Jimmy Jolicoeur improved to 2-0 in his first start of the season for the Matadors. He struck out five and scattered five hits for one run in six innings.
Both teams were held in check at the plate, collecting just five hits each. Rodriguez and Joey Mills had two each for Bakersfield while Ring had two hits for the Matadors.
The Roadrunners travel to Fresno State Tuesday for the final of four meetings with the Bulldogs this season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Beiden Field.
Score by Innings R H E
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CSU Bakersfield..... 100 000 100 - 2 5 0
Cal State Northridge 000 030 00X - 3 5 0
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Win - Jolicoeur (2-0). Loss - Montoya (2-4). Save - Gorski (1).
DP - CSUN 2. LOB - CSUB 3; CSUN 7. 2B - Ring(10); Allen(1). 3B - Kudlock(3).
HBP - Reed; Decater; Dabbs; Allen. SF - Richardson(3); Ring(2). SB -
Pineda(16); Ring(2); Decater(1); Rhoads(1). CS - Allen(1).
