IRVINE, Calif.---Pinch-hitter Andrew Martinez hit a two-run home run with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning to give UC Irvine a 4-3 victory over CSU Bakersfield Sunday afternoon.

Mylz Jones (Jr., Palmdale, Calif., Paraclete HS) gave the Roadrunners the lead for the first time in the series with a one-out double that scored David Metzgar (So., Lancaster, Calif., Paraclete HS) in the top of the first.  

Despite allowing only four hits through the first seven innings, CSUB starter Nick Rogowski (Sr., Woodbridge, Va., Cypress College) pitched in and out of trouble. He allowed at least one UCI base runner on in each inning, but thanks to two 'Runner double plays, the score remained 1-0 in favor of CSU Bakersfield.

With one out in the eighth, Anteater pinch-hitter Wyatt Castro singled. Pinch-runner Ryan Cooper moved to third on a Mikey Duarte single. Grant Palmer singled up the middle to tie the game. Palmer's single advanced Duarte to second. Keston Hiura was hit by a Rogowski pitch to load the bases.

Cameron Bishop walked with the bases loaded to give the lead to UC Irvine (11-10). Rogowski struck out Mitchell Holland for the second out and bring up Jerry McClanahan. McClanahan flew out to end the inning.

Chance Gusbeth (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Desert Christian HS) singled to right center with one out in the top of the ninth. Pinch-hitter Christian Deaton (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif., Frontier HS) grounded out to second to push Gusbeth up one base. Jordie Hein (Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz., Chapparal HS) doubled to the opposite field to drive in Gusbeth and tie the score. Metzgar flew out to center for the final out.

CSUB reliever Garrett Nimmo (So., Temecula, Calif., Temecula Valley HS) struck out Cole Kreuter to open the ninth, but Kreuter reached first on a Nimmo wild pitch. Parker Coss popped out to second. Cooper doubled to right center to bring up Duarte who drove in the game winning run. Duarte was intentionally walked to load the bases. Kris Paulino went for a bunt, but Nimmo fielded the ball and threw to CSUB catcher Max Carter (So., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) at home to keep the game tied. Hiura flew out to center to send the game to extra innings.

Garrett Pierce (Sr., Bakersfield, Calif., Centennial HS) singled with one out in the top of the 10th. The Anteaters' closer, Sam Moore, was called upon to relieve Kyle Davis, the second UCI pitcher of the day. Carter singled to left. Moore got Joey Sanchez (So., Pico Rivera, Calif., El Rancho HS), CSUB's leading hitter entering the game, to ground into a double play for the final two outs of the 'Runner 10th. Nimmo retired the Anteaters in order for the first time on the day in the bottom of the 10th.

Gusbeth singled with one out in the CSUB 11th. With two outs, Hein singled to left. Metzgar drove in the go-ahead run with an infield single. Jones reached on a UCI error to load the bases. Pierce's fielder's choice to second was the final out.

Alec Daily (So., Temecula, Calif., Great Oak HS) relieved Nimmo to start the UCI 11th. Daily induced a Krueter ground out to first to get the inning started. Coss was hit by a 2-2 Daily pitch, setting the stage for Martinez's game winning home run.

CSUB could not take advantage of having runners on second and third with less than two outs in the second, third, and sixth innings. The Roadrunners stranded five baserunners in scoring position in those three innings and would leave 13 on in the game.  Metzgar, Carter, Gusbeth, and Hein each charted three hits for the 'Runners. Jones tallied two hits. Duarte led UCI by going 2-for-3. CSUB would record eight more hits than UCI, 17-9.

CSUB (11-12-1) travels to CSUN (19-5) on Tuesday to finish up a nine-game road trip. Tuesday's game will also conclude the 2015 home and home series with the Matadors. CSUN defeated CSUB 5-0 Mar. 10 in Bakersfield. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

The Roadrunners return home Friday when CSUB opens a WAC series against Utah Valley. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com.

~www.GoRunners.com~