ARLINGTON, Tex.- A two-run fourth inning wasn't enough offense for CSU Bakersfield Saturday afternoon at UT Arlington as the Mavericks scored two in the bottom of the ninth on a RBI double as UTA defeated the Roadrunners 3-2 in Western Athletic Conference action.
CSUB led 2-1 going into the ninth before reliever Dylan Christensen (Sr., Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Saddleback College ) allowed a leadoff single and a one-out walk before Matt Shortall brought in the game-tying and game-winning runs with a double to give the Mavericks the win, evening the series at 1-1 with tomorrow's series-deciding first pitch scheduled for 2 P.M. CST.
CSUB trailed 1-0 after the first inning following a pair of singles from Arlington's Derek Miller and Shortall. Miller scored from second on the play after being sacrificed over by Ryan Walker. Shortall then singled in the first of three runs on the day, he was credited with all three Mavericks RBIs on Saturday.
Following the run, CSUB starter Scott Brattvet (Sr., Trabuco Canyon, Calif., Santa Ana College) was able to control the Mavericks lineup as he went six innings allowing just one run on five hits while striking out three in the no-decision. He was replaced by Christensen in the seventh inning after facing two hitters.
The Roadrunners scored their two runs in the fourth inning after a three walks and sacrifice bunt loaded the bases for Cael Brockmeyer (Jr., Vineyard Haven, Mass., Avon Old Farms HS) who singled to tie the game before Mylz Jones (Fr., Palmdale, Calif., Paraclete HS) reached base on an error and brought in a run to give CSUB a 2-1 lead. Jones reached base twice on the day but was 0-4 as his CSUB-record 21-game hitting streak came to an end.
The lead would hold for Bakersfield until the bottom of the ninth. CSUB stranded 11 baserunners on the day while managing two runs on eight hits while the Mavericks also stranded 10 but managed nine hits in the ballgame. The loss drops Christensen to 1-4 on the season as he pitched two and a third innings for CSUB, reliever Chad Nack earned the win for Arlington as he improved to 4-3.
Jonathan Montoya (Sr., Chino Hills, Calif., Chino Hills HS ) will start Sunday for the Roadrunners in the final game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 2 P.M. (CST). CSUB then returns home for five games next week including two non-conference games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at Hardt Field.
~www.GoRunners.com~
