BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—CSU Bakersfield rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat Northern Kentucky 11-5 in the baseball series finale Sunday afternoon at Hardt Field.

“Today was more representative of what we like to see,” said CSUB head coach Bill Kernen. “We had better intensity and a better team effort. We got behind, but we came back hard and got it turned around.”

RBI's from Cody Kuzniczci, Connor Ledger, and Ryan Lefevers in the top of the first gave the Norse (2-5) an early lead. The Norse appeared to have had their inning ended with only one run on the board when Logan Spurlin flew out to left, but a balk was called on CSUB (3-4) starter Nick Rogowski (Sr., Woodbridge, Va., Cypress College). The call allowed the inning to continue which resulted in the addition NKU runs.

Kuzniczci added his second RBI with a grounder to short in the top of the third. Jordie Hein (Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz., Chapparal HS) smacked a two-out single in the bottom of the third to score Garrett Pierce (Sr., Bakersfield, Calif., Centennial HS) to break the seal for CSUB.

The Roadrunners had the tying run at the plate with no outs in the fourth. NKU starter Tyler Miller struck out Chance Gusbeth (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Desert Christian HS) for the first out. The Norse brought in lefty Cody Cooper to face Ryan Grotjohn (So., Cave Creek, Ariz., Brophy College Prep), a left-handed batter.  Up 1-2 in the count, Cooper hit Grotjohn to load the bases.

Logan Trowbridge (Sr., Santa Cruz, Calif., College of San Mateo) came up next.  With the count 2-2, Cooper was called for a balk which allowed Mylz Jones (Jr., Palmdale, Calif., Paraclete HS) to score. Trowbridge walked to re-load the bases. Pinch hitter Joey Sanchez (So., Pico Rivera, Calif., El Rancho HS) tied the score with a two-RBI single.

Pierce grounded to short. Norse shortstop Kyle Colletta misplayed the ball as Trowbridge scored to give CSUB a 5-4 lead. Alex Bolia relieved Cooper to face Hein. Hein reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a NKU error. The error allowed Sanchez to score and push Pierce to third. David Metzgar (So., Lancaster, Calif., Paraclete HS) fouled out to right for the second out. Jones, batting for the second time in the inning, grounded out to third for the final out.

Rogowski retired 10 in a row at one point before allowing a two-out Trey Ganns infield single in the top of the fifth. Logan Spurlin walked for runners on first and second. Rogowski got Ledger to hit a grounder back to the mound for the final out.   

Grotjohn, Sanchez, and Pierce recorded RBI's in the fifth as CSUB took a 9-4 lead. NKU got one back in the top of the sixth on a Brad Bohen sacrifice fly which plated Ryan LeFevers. Gusbeth helped the Roadrunners reach double digits for the third time on the weekend with a two-RBI single in the sixth.  

Rogowski got the win after pitching seven innings. Max Carter (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) struck out three of the seven batters he faced in two innings of relief.

“Nick got into a little trouble in the beginning,” Kernen said. “He had a couple of things not go his way, but once he got it turned around he was really good.”

Hein led the 'Runners with three hits. Jones and Sanchez both posted two hits. After committing a season high two errors against the Norse on Saturday, Jones was flawless in nine chances (two putouts, seven assists) at shortstop. Ganns led NKU with three hits. LeFevers had two hits.

“What you saw today is what Mylz is,” Kernen said. “He plays catch, and makes the plays. It is never easy to win any series, but we feel good about that.”

CSUB travels to Cal Poly for a Tuesday game that gets underway at 6 p.m. The Roadrunners will then head to Arizona for the Phoenix Muni Classic which will get underway Thursday night when CSUB takes on the host, Arizona State at 6:30 p.m. (MST).

The Roadrunners return home Mar. 6 to begin a three-game series against Wagner College. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com.

~www.GoRunners.com~