BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- The Roadrunners continued the WAC season opening series against Grand Canyon with a 5-4 loss on Saturday night.

Oscar Sanay (Sr., Chula Vista, Calif., Bonita Vista HS) gave the 'Runners a promising chance in the bottom of the first with a two-out triple, but Bakersfield was unable to capitalize for the first run of the game.

James Barragan (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) got the start on the mound for the Roadrunners. The veteran pitcher had a nice first inning but got into trouble in the second. A leadoff single by Charles Wagner resulted in a run after Chris Lindmark doubled down the line to give the 'Lopes a 1-0 advantage. Grand Canyon added a second run in the third inning with a single, a stolen base, and another single to take a 2-0 lead.

Grand Canyon threatened again in the fifth with runners on second and third and no outs. Barragan proceeded to strike out the next batter and then walked one of GCU's hottest hitters, Chad De La Guerra to load the bases. A single to left field and a fielding error allowed all three base runners to score and busted open the game to a 5-0 lead for the 'Lopes.

Nick Rogowski (Jr., Woodbridge, Va., Cypress College) came on to relieve Barragan in the top of the sixth and retired the Grand Canyon side in order. Rogowski got himself into a spot of trouble in the eighth, but a fly ball fooled the runner on first and Chance Gusbeth (So., Lancaster, Calif., Desert Christian HS) doubled him off with an outfield assist.

Bakersfield started a rally in the bottom of the seventh by loading the bases with no outs. Back-to-back groundouts would do enough to score back-to-back runs as Soloman Williams (RJr., Long Beach, Calif., Golden West College) and Gusbeth reached home safely and cut the score to 5-2. A single just over the leaping third baseman's glove would plate the third and final run of the seventh inning.

The 'Runners made trouble for the Antelopes again in the eighth as Bakersfield put 'Runners on the corners with two outs. Gusbeth worked the count full then delivered an RBI single to right field. Trailing 5-4, the 'Runners could not convert with the bases loaded and would head to their final set of outs to try to come from behind.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, David Metzgar (Fr., Lancaster, Calif., Paraclete HS) singled to right and moved to second on a fielding error. Bakersfield was unable to plate the equalizer and the 'Runners fell by a score of 5-4. Three 'Runners ended the game with two hits including Metzgar and Gusbeth who each added an RBI. Bakersfield's bullpen combined for four consecutive scoreless innings to close out the game.          

Bakersfield (7-10) will return to Hardt Field on Sunday afternoon to finish the series against the Antelopes (8-9). First pitch of tomorrow's game is scheduled for 1 p.m. 

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