PHOENIX—In the opening game of a three-game series between the top two teams in the Western Athletic Conference, CSU Bakersfield used four two-out hits in the top of the fifth to defeat Grand Canyon 4-2.

CSUB (30-17-1, 15-6-1 WAC) and the Antelopes (28-21, 15-6 WAC) are now tied for first in the WAC with Seattle U (25-23, 15-7 WAC, a 6-3 winner over Chicago State Friday night) sitting a half game back in third.

What proved to be the game winning rally began with Chance Gusbeth (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Desert Christian HS) recording the first CSUB hit of the game against GCU starter Riley Bruns.  Jordie Hein (Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz., Chapparal HS) reached on an infield single before Bruns hit Ryan Grotjohn (So., Cave Creek, Ariz., Brophy College Prep) to load the bases. David Metzgar (So., Lancaster, Calif., Paraclete HS) singled to left to drive Gusbeth and Hein.  Max Carter (So., Bakersfield, Calif., Stockdale HS) plated Grotjohn and Metzgar with a double to left for the third and fourth CSUB runs.

“We did just enough at the plate with a big two-out rally for four runs in the fifth,” said CSUB head coach Bill Kernen.

Grand Canyon's fifth got underway with a Rouric Bridgewater double. Hayden Carter (Sr., San Diego, Calif., Vista HS) got Ben Mauseth to fly out to left. Humberto Aranda singled to left, but Bridgewater had to hold, and he could only advance to third. Jon Kealoha singled to left to drive in Bridgewater and push Aranda to second.  Thomas Lerough would ground into a 6-4-3 double play to quiet the threat.

Three of the four Roadrunners that came to bat in the CSUB sixth got on base. Grand Canyon threw out a CSUB runner attempting to steal and a Roadrunner attempting to go from first to third on a single to keep the score at 4-1. David Walker opened the GCU sixth with a double. Paul Panaccione, the third leading hitter in the WAC, grounded out to second to push Walker to third. Chad De La Guerra's league leading 49th RBI came on a single to left which cut the CSUB lead to two. Schwartz flew out to center before Bridgewater struck out looking.

Hayden Carter struck out Mauseth for the first out of the GCU seventh. Aranda reached on an infield single, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. Lerouge hit a hot shot to Grotjohn at third. The Arizona native backhanded the ball and threw across the diamond for the third out.

Mylz Jones (Jr., Palmdale, Calif., Paraclete HS) singled with one out in the eighth, but he became the seventh CSUB runner to be left on base.  The heart of the GCU order came up in the bottom of the frame. Walker lined out to Jones at short. Panaccione reached on a single to short left. Hayden Carter struck out De La Guerra and Schwartz to end the inning.

Gusbeth, batting ninth, singled for the second time in the game to commence the CSUB ninth. Hein attempted a sacrifice bunt. Hein grounded out to the catcher. Gusbeth moved to second but was tagged out at third by Jaren Drummand, the GCU reliever, who was covering third on Bridgewater's (the first baseman) throw. Grotjohn was quickly retired.

Bridgewater grounded out to begin the Grand Canyon's half of the ninth. Mauseth singled to right before Hayden Carter struck out Aranda. Pinch-hitter Brian Kraft singled. Matt Haggerty entered the game as a pinch-runner for Kraft. Lerouge worked the count to 2-2 before he fouled out to left to end the game.

It was Hayden Carter's fifth consecutive start in which he pitched nine innings (four complete games and nine of the 10 innings May 1 against Northern Colorado). He tied his career high with seven strikeouts and did not walk a batter. Grand Canyon would out hit the Roadrunners 11-9.

“Tonight was a very gritty, tough performance by Hayden tonight,” Kernen said. “This is a very good hitting Grand Canyon club. He dominated them primarily with his fastball. They were able to get some hits, but when they did, he dug in even tougher and just would not give in.”

De La Guerra, Mauseth, and Aranda each charted two hits for the Antelopes. Metzgar extended hitting streak to 13 games, tying him with Oscar Sanay (2011) for the sixth longest in school history. Hein and Gusbeth both posted two hits. The Roadrunners reached the 30-win plateau for the third time in the program's history (33 in 2011, 37 in 2013).

The Roadrunners and Antelopes continue the series Saturday night at 7 p.m. The Roadrunners return home for the final time next Tuesday against No. 6 UC Santa Barbara. That game begins at 6 p.m. on May 12. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com.

~GoRunners.com~