BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Martin Medina tossed three hitless innings of relief and the Roadrunner offense scored 12 runs on 16 hits, leading the CSUB Baseball team to a 12-4 win over UC Davis Saturday at Hardt Field.
On day after the team dismantled in the ninth inning, allowing the Aggies to rally for nine runs and a 12-11 win, the Roadrunners (16-17) did not let their foot off the pedal this time. Just like Friday, the scored runs early, taking a 7-1 lead through three innings. Just like Friday, they added five runs in the bottom of the eighth to pad their lead. But unlike Friday, they shut out the Aggies (16-15) in the ninth as Medina recorded three straight strikeouts to preserve the win and earn the team's first save of the season.
In the first, Jeremy Rodriguez singled to center and with two outs, Jason Kudlock drew a walk. Kevin Younger then came up with an RBI-single to center to score Rodriguez. Kyle Richardson reached on a fielding error by UC Davis shortstop Justin Schafer that also allowed Kudlock to cross home plate for an early 2-0 Roadrunner lead.
Following a solo home run by the Aggies' Kyle Mihaylo in the top of the second, Bakersfield added three more runs in the home half of the inning to go ahead 5-1. Brandon Boren scored on a Rodriguez single to right, Rodriguez scored on a Martin Medina triple to right and Medina scored in a Kudlock double to left.
In the third, the Roadrunners pushed the lead to 7-1 on a sacrifice fly by Boren and a Rodriguez RBI-single.
Bakersfield starter Matt Reyes ran into some trouble in the fourth, allowing David Popkins to reach on a hit by pitch. Reyes then walked Mihaylo to put runners on first and second. Paul Politi followed with a single through the right side to send Popkins home and Scott Heylman hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Mihaylo, making it a three-run game, 7-4.
In the home half of the eighth, CSUB tagged UC Davis relievers Scott Chew and Scott Heinig for five runs on five hits. JJ Henry began the rally with an RBI-single and Derek Geisinger followed with a bases-clearing double to the right-center field fence. Rodriguez added an RBI-single, giving the Roadrunners the eight-run lead.
Reyes improved to 3-1 on the season, striking out a pair and scattering nine hits for four runs through six innings. Medina finished with six strikeouts and did not allow an Aggie hit over the final three innings.
At the plate, Rodriguez finished with four hits and three RBIs. Geisinger added three hits and three RBIs, while three other Roadrunners had two hits each.
UC Davis starter Scott Lyman (2-4) took the loss, giving up nine hits and three walks for seven runs in four innings.
The Roadrunners and Aggies conclude their three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m.
Score by Innings R H E
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UC Davis............ 101 000 019 - 12 15 3
CSU Bakersfield..... 113 000 051 - 11 12 2
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Win - Heinig (1-1). Loss - Messmore (1-4). Save - Lewis (4).
E - Schafer(5); Politi(9); Heylman(7); Medina(6); Richardson(6). DP - UCD 1.
LOB - UCD 10; CSUB 9. 2B - Popkins 2(9); Lyman(12); Heylman 2(6);
Geisinger(2); Younger(5). 3B - Mills(3); Richardson(1). HBP - Schafer;
Cepin; Johnson; Mihaylo; Rodriguez; Medina. SH - Cepin(4). SF -
Richardson(4). SB - Henry(2). CS - Henry(2).
