BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—UC Riverside (6-5) took a pair of one-run games from Bakersfield (5-6) in a doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Hardt Field.

GAME 1

UC Riverside defeated Bakersfield 4-3 in game one. Nick Vilter hit his third home of the series and his sixth of the season, a three-run blast, in the top of the first to put the Highlanders in the lead. Chance Gusbeth's (So., Lancaster, Calif., Desert Christian HS) second triple of the game in the bottom of the third drove in a pair of runs.

Vitler picked up an RBI with a ground out to short in the top of the fifth. Pinch-hitter Nick Vehlewald (So., Bakersfield, Calif., Garces HS) led off the bottom of the eighth with a home run to right center.  Oscar Sanay (Sr., Chula Vista, Calif., Bonita Vista HS) and Mylz Jones (So., Palmdale, Calif., Paraclete HS) followed with back-to-back singles.

The third UCR pitcher of the game, Kevin Sprauge, entered the game and struck out Logan Trowbridge (Jr., Santa Cruz, Calif., College of San Mateo) for the first out. Garrett Pierce (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Centennial HS) grounded out to short to push both runners up a base. Gusbeth, who had to that point put up three hits, was intentionally walked to bring up Soloman Williams (Jr., Long Beach, Calif., GoldenWestCollege). Williams worked the count to 3-2 when he ground out to short to end the inning, marking the fourth time in the game, CSUB would leave the bases loaded.

Sprauge retired the Roadrunners in order in the ninth for the save. Angel Landazurie earned the win with four relief innings of starter Ben Doucette. Devyn Bolasky was 3-for-5 with two runs scored to lead UC Riverside.

The Roadrunners left would leave 17 on base for the game. Ross Hough (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Central Arizona College) also had three hits for Bakersfield.

GAME 2

The Highlanders defeated the Roadrunners 7-6 in the nightcap. Bolasky opened the nightcap with a two-RBI double as Vilter added an RBI single for a 3-0 UCR lead after the top of the first. Trowbridge responded a triple in the bottom of the first that scored two for the 'Runners. The 'Runners tied the game on an Antonio Gonzales wild pitch later in the frame.

The Highlanders regained the lead on a CSUB balk with the bases loaded in the top of the third. Pierce tied it up with an RBI single in the bottom of the third.  Max Carter (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) gave the 'Runners their first lead of the series with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth.

UC Riverside tied it up at five in the fifth when Drake Zarate singled in David Andriese.  The Highlanders returned to the lead in the sixth when Joe Chavez plated Cody Hough with a single to center. Hough's safety squeeze in the bottom of the eighth tied score at six.

Zarate drove in Vilter with a two-out RBI single in the top of the ninth. Sanay reached on an error to open the bottom of the ninth. Jones flew out to left for the first out against UC Riverside's Dylan Stuart who was working his sixth inning of relief. Sanay stole second to move into scoring position.

Trowbridge came back from 1-2 down in the count to Stuart to work out a walk. This brought up Pierce who hit a liner to center where Bolasky made the catch for the second out. Sanay  broke for third on contact and was doubled off to end the game.

Jones had two hits for CSUB. Bolasky posted two hits as did Zarate.

The Roadrunners host Cal State Northridge Tuesday at 6 p.m.

~www.GoRunners.com~