Box Score OREM, Utah—Taylor Aikenhead (Sr., Lancaster, Calif., Bakersfield College) and Sergio Luna (Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., East LA College) combined for a school record 14 strikeouts as Bakersfield (11-13, 4-3 WAC) defeated Utah Valley (7-18, 1-4 WAC) 10-4 Friday night.
RBI singles from Oscar Sanay (Sr., Chula Vista, Calif., Bonita Vista HS) and Ross Hough (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Central Arizona College) in the top of the second got the 'Runners on the board. Bakersfield added to the lead in the fifth after getting RBI's from Mylz Jones (So., Palmdale, Calif., Paraclete HS) and Max Carter (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS).
A CSUB error in the bottom of the sixth led to the first Wolverine run. With one out in the seventh and down 0-2 in the count, Chance Gusbeth (So., Lancaster, Calif., Desert Christian HS) singled to left to bring in the first two of what would four Roadrunner runs in the inning.
Aikenhead, who reset his career high with 11 strikeouts (while walking only one in 7.2 innings), gave up his first earned runs in last 24.1 innings in the bottom of the eighth when the lefty was roughed up for three as UVU closed the gap to 8-4. Bakersfield widened the lead to six with a pair of tallies in the top of the ninth.
Luna struck out three of the four batters he faced. The Bakersfield pitchers broke the old mark of 13 which was set on five previous occasions. Jones led the CSUB offense with three hits (3-4). For the fourth consecutive game, Allen Gwynn (R-Sr., Santa Paula, Calif., Ventura College) recorded two hits. In addition to his two RBI's, Gusbeth was 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Sanay drove in two runs. Sean Moysh and Colby Croft each had three hits to lead Utah Valley.
The series continues with a doubleheader Saturday. The first game will begin at 3 p.m. (MDT) with the second contest coming approximately 45 minutes upon the conclusion of the opener.
~www.GoRunners.com~
