NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—Cody White went 3-for-4 while Chance Gusbeth smacked a home run and earned the save on the mound for CSU Bakersfield as the Roadrunners defeated CSUN 8-5 in the 2016 baseball opener for both schools Friday afternoon.

The 'Runners took advantage of two CSUN errors to score three unearned runs with two outs in the top of the third. David Metzgar and Max Carter both recorded RBI's as Metzgar would score the third run on the back half of a double steal.

CSUB starter Steven Gee retired the first nine CSUN batter he faced before the Matadors led off the bottom of the fourth with a pair of hits. Albee Weiss, lined a shot towards second which Metzgar dove for and caught. He got up and threw to Mahlik Jones at short to complete the double play. The next batter, CSUN's cleanup hitter, Branden Berry hit a two-run home run to left center to make it a 3-2 game. Justin Toerner walked on four pitches before advancing to third on a Gee failed pickoff attempt. Gee steadied himself and got Dylan Alexander to ground out to third to end the fourth.

Freshman Sergio Robles singled in Gusbeth with two outs in the top of the sixth to make it 4-2 in favor of the 'Runners. Adam Coats relieved Gee to start the sixth. He got the first out before Weiss appeared to have an extra base hit when he singled down the left field line with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Robles, who replaced Drew Seelman in left when he was injured in the second, cut the ball off to keep Weiss at first. This brought up Berry who flew out to Robles in left. Justin Turner lined out to right to end the inning.

Metzgar was hit by an Andrew Weston pitch to lead off the CSUB eight. Carter singled up the middle to advance Metzgar to second. Gusbeth put down a bunt down the third base line and was able to beat it out for an infield single to load the bases. Lefty Joey Deceglie relieved Weston to face the left handed hitting Ryan Grotjohn.

Grotjohn grounded out to first which allowed Metzgar to score. CSUN brought the infield in against White who singled to right. Carter scored with Gusbeth moving to third. The ball was bobbled by Nick Viola which allowed Gusbeth to score to make it 7-2. Robles walked to put 'Runners on first and second. Jones grounded back to Deceglie for the second out, but both baserunners moved up 90 feet. Angel Rodriguez relieved Deceglie and hit Dustin Frailey to load the bases. Joey Sanchez would strike out to end the inning.

With one out in the bottom of the eighth, the Matadors again put two runners on for Weiss. Garrett Nimmo, the third pitcher of the day for the 'Runners, struck out Weiss on a 3-2 count but Berry homered again, cutting the CSUB lead to 7-5.  Nimmo recovered and struck out Toerner for the third out. 

Gusbeth homered to left with two outs in the top of the ninth and came on to close in the bottom of the inning. After falling behind Alexander 3-0, Gusbeth came back to chart the strikeout on three consecutive pitches. William Colantano grounded out to short. Gusbeth completed the 1-2-3 inning by striking out Elias Orona for the final out.

“I thought we played well,” said CSUB head coach Bob Macaluso. “We made a couple of mistakes. I was happy with Gee. He located his fastball, had trouble locating his breaking stuff, but he hung in there. I loved our bullpen. Coats threw an inning, Nimmo was really good, then Gusbeth looked like he was throwing 95. We had some two out hits, I liked the performance today, that's for sure.”

White had two singles to complement his double. Gusbeth would tally two hits and three runs scored. Carter and Frailey both had two hits. The four CSUN pitchers Rayne Raven, Weston, Deceglie, and Rodriguez struck out 10 Roadrunners.  Berry and Fred Smith combined for four of the six CSUN hits.

The series against the Matadors continues Saturday at Hardt Field in the home opener for the Roadrunners. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Tickets are available through the CSUB Athletics' Ticket Office at (661) 654-BLUE or tickets@csub.edu, or online at Vallitix.com.

~www.GoRunners.com~