BAKERSFIELD, Calif.--The CSU Bakersfield baseball team opens its inaugural season in the Western Athletic Conference this weekend at Sacramento State. The series opens Friday at 3. Game two is Saturday at 1 p.m. with the series finale coming Sunday at 12 p.m.

Sac State and Bakersfield played for the first time last season with CSUB winning 2-of-3 games in Bakersfield. The Hornets improved to 12-8 Tuesday when Sacramento State defeated Saint Mary's 9-7. David Del Grande leads the team in hitting (.321). Justin Higley and Andrew Ayers have both hit two home runs with Ayers leading the team in RBI's (13).

Righthanders Ty Nichols (Friday, 3-1, 2.22 ERA), Brennan Leitao (Saturday, 1-1, 3.97 ERA), and Tanner Mendoca (0-3, 7.00 ERA) are scheduled to start for the Hornets.  Going for CSUB this weekend will be Jeff McKenzie (Friday, 4-1, 1.46 ERA), Scott Brattvet (Saturday, 4-0, 1.91 ERA), and Taylor Aikenhead (Sunday, 3-2, 2.93 ERA).

McKenzie was named WAC Pitcher of the Week for the second consecutive time Mar. 18. McKenzie recorded his second straight shutout (12-0) against Northern Colorado Mar. 16. He retired the first 15 UNC batters before giving up his only walk of the game to lead off the sixth inning. The first Bears' hit came with one out in the sixth. He struck out 11 including the side in the ninth. He has not given up a run in his last 18.2 innings on the bump.

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