IRVINE, Calif. — Another low scoring affair at Anteater Ballpark went in favor of the home team Saturday as No. 29 UC Irvine escaped with a 3-2 win over the CSUB baseball team in the second of a three-game series.
Jeremy Rodriguez extended his current hit streak to a CSUB record 18 consecutive games, but the Roadrunner offense managed just four total hits, falling to 18-22 on the season. UC Irvine moved to 26-14 overall.
Brian Hernandez and Jordan Leyland each drove in a run as the Anteaters jumped out to an early lead for the second day in a row, scoring a pair of runs on three hits in home half of the first.
Jason Kudlock led off the top of the second with a triple to the right field wall and scored two batters later on a Derek Geisinger ground out to short. Kudlock gave CSUB the 2-2 tying run in the fourth, again leading off with a triple and scoring on a JJ Henry ground out to second.
CSUB starter Matt Reyes ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth, beginning with a one-out walk to Francis Larson. D.J. Crumlich followed with a single through the left side before Reyes recorded the second out on a Corey Olsen strikeout. But Sean Madigan loaded the bases after being hit by pitch and the Roadrunners went to the bullpen.
Martin Medina entered in relief and hit Casey Stevenson with his second offering, allowing Larson to score the go ahead run. Medina then ended the inning with a swinging strikeout of Brian Hernandez.
Reyes (3-3) gave up five hits and a pair of walks for three runs in 3.2 innings. Medina tossed the final 4.1, striking out three while allowing one walk and two hits.
Kudlock's pair of triples led the Roadrunner offense, while Brandon Boren and Rodriguez each tallied a hit.
Christian Bergman (5-2) went 8.1 innings for the Anteaters, fanning seven while scattering four hits for a pair of runs. Kyle Necke recorded the final two outs of the game for his seventh save of the year.
Bakersfield and UC Irvine conclude play Sunday at 1 p.m. at Anteater Ballpark.
Score by Innings R H E
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CSU Bakersfield..... 010 100 000 - 2 4 1
UC Irvine........... 200 100 00X - 3 7 0
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Win - Bergman (5-2). Loss - Reyes (3-3). Save - Necke (7).
E - Rodriguez(6). DP - CSUB 1. LOB - CSUB 4; UCI 9. 2B - Rodriguez(8);
Stevenson(10); Cusick(15). 3B - Kudlock 2(5); Leyland(2). HBP - Younger;
Geisinger; Madigan; Stevenson. Reached on CI - Larson.
