TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona's powerful offense returned Saturday in the second of a three-game series against the CSUB baseball team, helping the No. 20 ranked Wildcats claim a 17-6 win over the Roadrunners at Jerry Kindall Field at Sancet Stadium.
The Wildcats (30-15) entered the series averaging nearly a dozen hits and eight run runs per game. On Friday, led by CSUB starter Mickey Jannis, UA managed just seven hits for two runs. Saturday was a different story as Arizona evened the series 1-1 by collecting 20 hits and taking advantage of five CSUB fielding errors to post their third highest run total of the season.
The top of Bakersfield's lineup did its part as Brandon Boren, Kevin Younger and Jeremy Rodriguez combined for nine of the team's 17 hits. Younger led the way with a 4-for-5 performance, Boren added three hits and all three reached base in their first three at bats.
The trio also accounted for all three Roadrunner runs. In the top of the first, Boren led off with a single through the left side, Younger doubled down the left field line and Rodriguez plated the two with a single up the middle.
In the third, Boren led off with a single up the middle, advanced to third on a single to right by Younger and scored on a single to short by Rodriguez.
After Bakersfield (20-24) took the early 2-0 lead, the Wildcats tallied four runs in the first and two in the third to lead 6-3 through three complete. But they really broke things open in the fourth, posting six runs on five hits and three walks, pushing the lead to 12-3. UA added four more runs in the fifth and one in the seventh.
Pinch hitter Nick Shannon broke the Roadrunners' five-inning scoreless streak with a two-run home run in the top of the ninth, cutting the spread to 17-5. The two-run blast was Shannon's first hit of the season in four at bats. Mick Gaston added an RBI-single to center before closer Grayson Adams was able to record a pop fly out and strikeout to end the game.
Bakersfield starter Martin Medina (4-2) gave up nine hits for six runs in three innings, taking his second loss of the season. Brandon Van Dam had the best relief appearance of the night, striking out four while allowing three hits for one unearned run in 2.2 innings of work.
Kyle Smith (7-4) struck out eight and scattered a dozen hits in eight complete innings. He allowed just two walks and three earned runs.
Six Wildcats had multiple-hit outings, led by Joey Rickard's 5-for-7 performance. Steve Selsky added three hits and four RBIs.
The rubber match game between the Roadrunners and Wildcats begins Sunday at noon.
Score by Innings R H E
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CSU Bakersfield..... 201 000 003 - 6 17 5
Arizona............. 402 640 10X - 17 20 0
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Win - Simon, K. (7-4). Loss - Medina (4-2). Save - None.
E - Boren(5); Richardson 2(9); Geisinger(1); Mills(4). DP - CSUB 1; ARIZ 3.
LOB - CSUB 10; ARIZ 14. 2B - Younger(7); Branske(3); Valenzuela 2(13);
Selsky, S. 2(14); Rinard, B.(8); Mejias-Brean(7). 3B - Frenzel, C.(1). HR -
Shannon(1). HBP - Bandy, J.. SB - Rinard, B.(11); Mejias-Brean(4).
