BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Pinch-hitter Justin Castro smacked a two-run double with two outs in the top of the eighth to put UC Irvine (16-8) up for good as the Anteaters defeated Bakersfield (10-13) 7-4 Tuesday night.

Due to a fatal automobile accident on the I-5, the umpires originally assigned to the game by the WAC could not travel to Bakersfield from the Los Angeles area. After a 65-minute delay, the game began with one umpire, Bob Williams, behind home plate.

A play at the plate in the top of second in which a UCI runner was thrown out by shortstop Oscar Sanay (Sr., Chula Vista, Calif., Bonita Vista HS) who took a throw from right fielder Chance Gusbeth (So., Lancaster, Calif., Desert Christian HS). A Sanay RBI ground out in the bottom of the third broke the seal for CSUB. Taking advantage of two UC Irvine errors, the Roadrunners got RBI's from Allen Gwynn (R-Sr., Santa Paula, Calif., Ventura College) and Logan Trowbridge (Jr., Santa Cruz, Calif., College of San Mateo) as CSUB scored three more times in the frame.

Back-to-back home runs from Connor Spencer and Taylor Sparks opened the UCI fourth inning. Evan Cassolato's sacrifice fly made it 4-3 later in the inning. The Anteaters loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth when Jerry McClanahan's squeeze bunt tied the score at four, but for the second time in the game, a UC Irvine runner was thrown out at home to end the inning when Spencer was called out trying to advance from second.

Anteaters' reliever Kyle Davis struck out Trowbridge with runners on the corners in the fifth to put down a Bakersfield threat. The Roadrunners loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. The third UCI pitcher of the night, Jimmy Litchfield, struck out Gusbeth for the final out of the inning.

The top of the seventh saw the second umpire, Joe Maiden arrive after battling the traffic on the interstate. Spencer opened the eighth with a single through the left side. Sparks, the Anteaters' clean up hitter laid down a sacrifice but to push Spencer up to second. McClanahan grounded a ball to Sanay, who instead of throwing across the diamond for the sure out, threw to third where Mylz Jones (So., Palmdale, Calif., Paraclete HS) made the tag for the second out. Jonathan Munoz singled to right to bring up Castro who posted the go-ahead hit with a 3-2 count against Max Carter (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) who came in the game in relief of fellow freshman Steven Gee (Taft, Calif., Taft Union HS)

Jordie Hein (Jr., Scottsdale, Ariz., Chapparal HS) singled to begin the eighth for the 'Runners. This brought in Anteater closer Sam Moore, the Division I leader in saves to face Carter who posted his third hit of the night, a single to left. Sanay attempted a sacrifice bunt, but McClanahan, the UCI catcher, threw out Hein attempting to advance to third. Jones grounded into a fielder's choice for the second out. Pinch-hitter Soloman Williams (Jr., Long Beach, Calif., Golden West College) lined out to left to end the inning.

Spencer posted his fourth hit of the night when he posted an RBI double in the ninth. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Gwynn singled up the middle. Trowbridge grounded into a 5-4 fielder's choice for the second out. David Metzgar (Fr., Lancaster, Calif., Paraclete HS) grounded out to short to end the game.

Moore recorded his 10th save of the year. Litchfield improved to 3-1 on the season with two innings of scoreless relief. Gwynn and Hein each had two hits for the 'Runners.

The Roadrunners return WAC competition this weekend with a three-game road series at Utah Valley beginning Friday at 6 p.m. (MDT).

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