BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—CSU Bakersfield opens the 2016 baseball season this weekend with three-games against CSUN.
For the first time in the history of the Roadrunner program, CSUB will play opening day on the road when the Roadrunners travel to Northridge on Friday for a 2 p.m. first pitch against CSUN. The home opener is set for Saturday night at 6 p.m. at Hardt Field. The series concludes Sunday in Northridge at 1 p.m.
CSUB and CSUN are playing for the 20th, 21st, and 22nd times this weekend with the Roadrunners leading the all-time series 10-9. The teams split a pair of games last season with each team winning at the opponent's home field.
The Matadors return 18 letterwinners from a 2015 club that won 33 games, improving its record from the previous season by 15 wins.
Rayne Raven, the probable opening pitcher for CSUN, went 7-4 with a 2.18 ERA and 73 strikeouts last season. Saturday's probable starter is scheduled to be Kenny Rosenberg. Sunday's starter is to be determined. Matador closer Conner O'Neil reset the CSUN school record for most saves in a season with 12 a year ago.
Senior infielders William Colantono and Yusuke Akitoshi return to the left side of the CSUN infield. Colantono, the third baseman, is a 2015 honorable mention All-Conference selection. Akitoshi started 57 games at shortstop last season.
CSU Bakersfield was picked fourth in the preseason Western Athletic Conference baseball coaches' poll. Two Roadrunners; David Metzgar and Joey Sanchez were named preseason All-Conference in a vote of the league's 10 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.
Grand Canyon is the preseason favorite to win the 2016 Western Athletic Conference baseball title and Lopes' shortstop Paul Panaccione and Sacramento State pitcher Sam Long were selected WAC Preseason Player and Pitcher of the Year respectively
The Lopes received five of 10 first place votes to edge out Sacramento State, who received four first place votes. Seattle U grabbed the remaining first place vote to take third in the preseason poll, followed closely by 2015 WAC Tournament champion CSU Bakersfield in fourth. NM State was selected fifth and Utah Valley earned the sixth position. UT Rio Grande Valley was selected seventh, followed by Northern Colorado, North Dakota and Chicago State.
Metzgar was selected Perfect Game preseason WAC Player of the Year Feb. 5. The WAC Tournament MVP, Metzgar led the Roadrunners in batting average (.347), RBI's (42), at-bats (251), runs scored (47), hits (87), doubles (17), assists (189), and total bases (114). He was 15th in Division I in hits, posting 28 multiple hit games and had 13 games with multiple RBI's.
Also named to Perfect Game preseason All-Western Athletic Conference team from CSUB were Steven Gee (pitcher) and Chance Gusbeth (utility). Gee tied for the team lead in appearances last season with fellow junior Garrett Nimmo (18) after serving as both as a starter and as a reliever.
Gee pitched CSUB into the WAC Tournament championship game by recording his first career shutout and first career complete game by tossing a four-hitter in the 'Runners 4-0 victory over Sacramento State May 23. For his efforts, he was named to the All-WAC Tournament team. Gee ended 2015 with a 5-3 record and two saves. His 2.55 ERA was second on the team. Gee struck out 44 in 77.2 innings.
Gusbeth was named to the All-WAC Tournament team after hitting .412 during the tournament. Gusbeth led the Roadrunners last season in stolen bases with 11 (11-13), the sixth most in a season by a CSUB player. Gusbeth hit .273 with three home runs and 32 RBI's. Gusbeth is expected to pitch out of the bullpen as well for the 'Runners this season.
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