TUCSON, Ariz. — Down 2-0 through three innings, the CSUB baseball team rallied for seven unanswered runs, including five in the top of the 11th, claiming a 7-2 win over No. 20 Arizona Friday night at Jerry Kindall Field at Sancet Stadium.
In the decisive frame, the Roadrunners broke down Arizona's bullpen, using four hits, one error and one wild pitch to push the five runs across the plate and claim their 20th win of the season.
The extra-inning affair was the third of the season, fifth in the two-year history of the program, and just the second extra-inning victory on those five tries.
The Wildcats (29-15) broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third, loading up the bases with two hits by pitches and a walk. Jannis caught Bobby Rinard to strike out looking for the first out, but Rafael Valenzuela singled to center field and advanced to second on a fielding error by Joey Mills. Joey Rickard and Seth Meijas-Brean crossed home plate on the play to give Arizona a 2-0 advantage.
A single by Brandon Boren followed by a trio of walks in both the sixth and seventh innings brought the Roadrunners back into the game, eventually forcing extra innings.
Boren led off the top of the sixth with a single down the right field line and Kevin Younger drew a five pitch walk. Jeremy Rodriguez advanced the runners to second and third with a ground out to short and, two batters later, Martin Medina walked to load the bases. Kyle Richardson then send the first Bakersfield run across the plate with an RBI-walk.
In the seventh, it was a two-out single by Boren and three consecutive walks issued by Wildcat reliever Bryce Bandilla that evened the game, 2-2.
Jannis didn't allow an Arizona runner past second base in the seventh through ninth innings, finishing nine complete innings with four strikeouts. He scattered six hits and four walks for one earned run in the no-decision.
Both teams moved runners to second and third in the 10th inning, but neither was able to convert as Garrett Brankse struck out swinging for CSUB and Steve Selsky flew out to center field for Arizona.
In the top of the 11th, Mills led off with a single through the right side, Boren singled through the right side and Younger drew a walk to load the bases. That brought Rodriguez to the plate to send the first offering from Bandilla through the left side, scoring Mills and Boren. Nick Cunningham entered for Bandilla, but promptly gave up an RBI-double to Jason Kudlock, giving the Roadrunners a 5-2 lead.
With first base open, Cunningham intentionally walked Medina before being replaced by Augey Bill. Bill quickly recorded out No. 2 with a three-pitch strikeout of Richardson. But a fielding error by the relief pitcher allowed Garrett Branske to reach first and Rodriguez to score the fourth run of the inning for CSUB. Bill surrendered another unearned run on a wild pitch before getting JJ Henry to ground out for the final out.
In the final half inning, CSUB reliever Matt Reyes gave up a pair of walks and a fielder's choice, allowing the Wildcats a pair of runners on base. But Juan Padilla came in and recorded back-to-back fly outs to leave the runners stranded.
Reyes (4-3) was the pitcher of record for Bakersfield, not allowing a hit in one inning of work. Boren led the Roadrunners at the plate, going 4-for-6 with three runs scored. Rodriguez and Kudlock added a two hits and two RBIs apiece.
Bandilla (5-4) took the loss for Arizona, allowing five hits for three earned runs in 3.2 innings of work. Alex Meija was the only Wildcat to tally more than one hit, going 2-for-4.
The Roadrunners and Wildcats continue their three-game series Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at noon.
Score by Innings R H E
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CSU Bakersfield..... 000 001 100 05 - 7 11 1
Arizona............. 002 000 000 00 - 2 7 2
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Win - Reyes (4-3). Loss - Bandilla, B. (5-4). Save - None.
E - Mills(3); Refsnyder(10); Bill, A.(1). DP - CSUB 1; ARIZ 1. LOB - CSUB
13; ARIZ 10. 2B - Boren(13); Kudlock(13); Mejia, A.(9). HBP - Richardson;
Rickard, J.; Mejias-Brean. SH - Selsky, S.(1). CS - Henry(4); Frenzel,
C.(1).
