RIVERSIDE, Calif.—CSU Bakersfield scored six runs over the final two innings to defeat UC Riverside 9-3 Wednesday night.

The Highlanders (7-10) led 2-0 entering the fifth when CSUB tied it on a UCR error. With two outs in the inning, a Ryan Grotjohn (So., Cave Creek, Ariz., Brophy College Prep) infield single scored Solomon Williams (Sr., Long Beach, Calif., Golden West College).  A Mike Rubanowitz RBI single in the bottom of the fifth tied the game.

CSUB (10-7) broke the game open in the eighth. With one out, Mylz Jones (Jr., Palmdale, Calif., Paraclete HS) walked and stole second. Jones moved to third on a Christian Deaton (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif., Frontier HS) ground out. Roadrunner leadoff hitter Jordie Hein (Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz., Chapparal HS) was hit by pitch. David Metzgar (So., Lancaster, Calif., Paraclete HS) singled to center to plate Jones and move Hein to third. Metzgar stole second. Joey Sanchez (So., Pico Rivera, Calif., El Rancho HS) doubled down the right field line to score Hein and Metzgar. Williams singled through the right side to drive in Sanchez. 

The Roadrunners scored two in the ninth. Grotjohn led off the inning with a double to right center. With one out, Jones singled up the middle to score Grotjohn. Cody White (So., Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) singled to center, Jones advanced to third and scored on a Highlanders' error.

Max Carter (So., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) who relieved CSUB starter AJ Monarrez (R-Jr., Hawthorne, Calif., Glendale College) in the seventh, pitched the final three innings to get the win. Carter gave up one hit and faced the minimum nine batters during his stint. Monarrez scattered seven hits over the first six innings and struck out four during his first start as a Roadrunner.

Metzgar and Grotjohn both went 3-for-5 to pace the Roadrunners. Sanchez was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Drake Zarate had three of the eight UC Riverside hits (3-for-4).

“Tonight we had to really stay patient and keep it together as a team effort from beginning to end until we were able to break the game open,” said CSUB head coach Bill Kernen. “A solid effort by Monarrez was very important and that led to Max dominating the last three innings.”

CSUB opens WAC play at New Mexico State this weekend. The three-game series begins Friday night at 6 p.m. (MDT). The middle game of the series which begins at 1 p.m. (MDT) will be available on ESPN3.com or the Watch ESPN appl. The Roadrunners return home after a nine-game road trip Mar. 27 when CSUB opens a WAC series against Utah Valley. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com.

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