RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Four lead changes and two ties went in favor of UC Riverside Sunday as they Highlanders broke a 4-4 tie with three runs in the sixth on their way to a 10-6 win over the CSUB baseball team Sunday at the Riverside Sports Complex.
Bakersfield fell to 17-20 on the year and dropped its first series to a Big West Conference member in three tries. The Highlanders moved to 20-13 overall.
Jason Kudlock tied Brandon Boren's CSUB hit streak record, collecting two hits on the day to extend his current streak to 16 games. Jeremy Rodrguez hit safely for the 15th consecutive game, going 4-for-5 at the plate.
Down 10-4 entering their final at bats, the Roadrunners collected a pair hits and three walks to push two runs across the plate, but UCR closer Mitch Patito was able to get Nick Shannon to hit into a fielder's choice to end the rally.
UC Riverside took the first lead of the game on a Tony Nix one-out solo home run to left in the bottom of the second.
Bakersfield answered back with three runs in the top of the third. With two outs, Kevin Younger reached on a hit by pitch, Rodriguez singled to right, Martin Medina drew a four-pitch walk and Kudlock sent a pair home with a single to shallow right. Kyle Richardson followed with a single to center to send the third run across the plate.
The first tie of the game came in the bottom of the fourth when Riverside struck CSUB starter Mike McCarthy for three hits to score two runs. Joey Gonzales led off with a single to left, Robert Brantly singled through the right side and a Justin Shults ground out to second allowed Gonzales to score. Tyler Nix then singled in Brantly to make it 3-3.
A Richardson two-out single in the fifth gave the Roadrunners a brief lead, 4-3, but the Highlanders tied the game again in the bottom of the frame on an RBI-single by Trevor Hairgrove.
The game then opened up in the bottom of the sixth as UCR scored the final go ahead runs on three hits and one walk. The Highlanders added three more runs in the eighth, giving themselves a six-run lead, 10-4.
Bakersfield battled back one more time in the ninth, beginning with a Garrett Branske leadoff walk. Rodriguez then reached on an error and Medina reached on a fielder's choice as UCR chose to get Rodriguez out at second. Mick Gaston walked to load the bases and Richardson knocked an RBI-single through the right side to sent Branske home. JJ Henry followed with an RBI-fielder's choice and Joey Mills drew a walk before the Highlanders recorded the final out.
McCarthy (3-4) took the loss for CSUB, giving up 12 hits and one walk for eight runs in seven innings. Riverside reliever Mike Wolford (2-1) was credited with the win, recording one strikeout to go along with two hits in 1.1 innings.
The Roadrunners return to Hardt Field Tuesday for a single game against Loyola Marymount. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on ESPN 1230 AM and via the web at espnbakersfield.com.
Score by Innings R H E
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CSU Bakersfield..... 003 010 002 - 6 12 0
UC Riverside........ 010 213 03X - 10 14 2
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Win - Wolford, M. (2-1). Loss - McCarthy (3-4). Save - Patito, M. (3).
E - Pellegrino,(1); Young, E.. DP - CSUB 2; UCR 1. LOB - CSUB 12; UCR 3. 2B
- Rodriguez 2(7); McConkey, B.(11); Nix, T.(7); Young, E.(6); Hairgrove,
T(5). 3B - Brantly, R.(1). HR - Nix, T.(2). HBP - Younger. SH - Horst,
B.(2). SF - Pellegrino,(2). SB - Mills(6); Hollinsworth(1). CS - Mills(4);
Hairgrove, T(2).
