PHOENIX, Ariz.—Kris Cayton's (R-Sr., Manhattan Beach, Calif., LA Harbor College) two-out RBI double in keyed a two-run rally in the top of the 11th as CSU Bakersfield  rallied from four runs down to defeat Purdue 6-4 in the final game of the Phoenix Muni Classic Saturday.

"Winning a game like this is very satisfying of course, but the most important thing for me has been the character we've shown all week in this tournament," said CSUB head coach Bill Kernen.

The Boilermakers took a 1-0 lead on Brett Carlson's suicide squeeze that plated Brandon Krieg in the bottom of the fourth. Purdue starter Matt Frawley retired 15 of 17 CSUB batters midway through the game. Frawley did not allow a hit from the second to the seventh when Garrett Pierce (Sr., Bakersfield, Calif., Centennial HS) singled. Pinch-runner Drew Seelman (Fr., Temecula, Calif., Temecula Valley HS) entered for Pierce and was thrown out attempting to steal second for the final out of the seventh.  It was the first time in 18 attempts this season that CSUB was thrown out attempting to steal (17-of-18).

After retiring nine in a row, CSUB starter Nick Rogowski (Sr., Woodbridge, Va., Cypress College) gave up a one-out double to Jack Picchiotti in the seventh. Rogowski walked the next two batters to load the bases. Michael Vilardo grounded into a 6-4 fielder's choice which allowed Picchiotti to score. Cody Strong's single plated two for a 4-0 lead.

Frawley struck out five and allowed all three CSUB hits in the seven innings. Frawley gave way to Gavin Downs in the eighth who retired the Roadrunners in order.  CSUB loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth after three straight singles from Jordie Hein (Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz., Chapparal HS), David Metzgar (So., Lancaster, Calif., Paraclete HS), Max Carter (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) loaded the bases with a single to left. 

Joe Eichman relieved Downs and promptly gave up a Chance Gusbeth (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Desert Christian HS) single that scored two runs. Ryan Grotjohn (So., Cave Creek, Ariz., Brophy College Prep) tripled to drive in Carter and Gusbeth to tie the score.  Alex Lyons took over from Eichman and went up against pinch-hitter Nick Vehlewald (Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Garces HS). Vehlewald flew out to left, but it wasn't deep enough to score Grotjohn.

Logan Trowbridge (Sr., Santa Cruz, Calif., College of San Mateo) attempted a two-strike suicide squeeze, Trowbridge struck out as Grotjohn was thrown out. Both teams had runners in scoring position in the 10th, but each squad came away with nothing.  Grotjohn got on with a single in the 11th to set the stage for Cayton's go-ahead run. Soloman Williams (Sr., Long Beach, Calif., Golden West College) pinch-hit for Trowbridge and drove in Cayton with a single.

Mahlik Jones (So., Palmdale, Calif., Paraclete HS) singled Williams to second. Joey Sanchez (So., Pico Rivera, Calif., El Rancho HS) walked to load the bases and chase Alex Lyons, the Boilermakers' fourth pitcher of the game. Tim McElroy came on to face Hein who grounded into a 6-4 fielder's choice for the final out.

Garrett Nimmo (So. Temecula, Calif., Temecula Valley HS), who relieved Rogowski in the seventh retired the Boilermakers in order in the bottom of the 11th to secure the victory. Nimmo threw 4.1 innings of four-hit relief. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.  Rogowski struck out eight 6.2 innings.

Gusbeth and Grotjohn both posted two hits and two RBI's. Jones recorded hits in each of his two at-bats coming off the bench. Purdue's Kyle Wood led all players with three hits. (3-of-5). Pichiotti had two hits for the Boilermakers.

"I think we are coming together as we expected we would would and now the job is to keep it rolling," Kernen said."

The Roadrunners return home Friday when CSUB begins a three-game series against Wagner College. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com.

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