Box Score BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Trailing 9-0 entering the ninth Bakersfield nearly came all the way back, but UC Riverside (5-4) defeated the Roadrunners (4-5) 9-6.
A Nick Vitler three-run home run highlighted a four-run Highlander outburst in the top of the third. Vitler smacked a solo blast with one out in the top of the fifth. UC Riverside scored one more in the inning to chase 'Runner starter Taylor Aikenhead (Lancaster, Calif., Bakersfield College). The Highlanders added one in the seventh. Vitler singled in his final two runs (for six on the day) in the eighth.
The Roadrunners got on the board in the bottom of the ninth when Ryan Grotjohn (Fr. Cave Creek, Ariz., Brophy College Prep) walked with the bases loaded. A Mylz Jones (So., Palmdale, Calif., Paraclete HS) double scored two later in the ninth. In his first college at-bat, Max Carter (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) hit a three-run home run. Gabe Gentner retired the final two CSUB batters for the victory.
Jordie Hein (Jr., Scottsdale, Ariz., Chapparal HS) had three hits while Jones and Logan Trowbridge (Jr., Santa Cruz, Calif., College of San Mateo) each had two. In addition to Vilter, Francisco Tellez had three hits.
The series concludes Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.
~www.GoRunners.com~
