BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—CSU Bakersfield came from behind to defeat CSUN 5-3 in the final game of a weekend set Sunday afternoon at Matador Field.

“I'm really happy to get the series victory,” said CSUB head coach Bob Macaluso. “All of the games this weekend were battles.”

Max Carter's two-out single plated Dustin Frailey in the top of the first to give the 'Runners an early lead. Mahlik Jones smacked a two-out double in the top of the fourth to score Cody White that extended the advantage to two.

Roadrunner starting pitcher AJ Monarrez retired nine in a row at point before Yusuke Akitoshi doubled with one out in the bottom of the fourth. Albee Weiss struck out before Branden Berry walked. Justin Toerner tripled in both Akitoshi and Berry to knot the game at two. Nolan Bumstead gave the Matadors the lead with a single that drove in Toerner. Bobby Schuman's fly ball went to the warning track in right center field, but Frailey tracked the ball down to get the Roadrunners out of the inning.

Frailey walked to begin the CSUB fifth and stole second. Christian Deaton worked out a walk against CSUN reliever Nick Viola. Matt Troupe relieved Viola and faced David Metzgar. After Metzgar went down 0-2 in the count trying to bunt the runners over. Troupe uncorked a wild pitch that allowed both to move up a base. Troupe recovered to strike out Metzgar on his next pitch. Carter walked to load the bases to bring up White. On a 1-1 count, White grounded into a 6-4-3 double play which ended the inning.

Elias Orona walked to open the Matadors' fifth and moved to second on an Adam Coats wild pitch. Coats, who relieved Monarrez at the start of the inning, walked Fred Smith. A double steal led to an Akitoshi suicide squeeze attempt. Oronoa was caught trying to come home for the second out.  Coats would walk Akitoshi. CSUB brought in Garrett Nimmo to face Weiss. Weiss worked the count to 3-2 before he swung at a Nimmo breaking ball, striking out to end the inning.

On the first pitch of the CSUB seventh, Frailey smacked a home run to left to tie the score. With one out, Metzgar doubled to left center. Angel Rodriguez relieved Troupe and came on to face Carter. Carter, a right handed batter, went the other way for a single that scored Metzgar. White would ground into a double play that concluded the inning.

White relieved Nimmo to start the seventh and he walked Jose Ruiz. Orona laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to advance Ruiz to second. White struck out William Colantono. Ruiz would head to third on a White wild pitch. Fred White, the CSUN leadoff hitter, grounded out to first for the third out.

Chance Gusbeth led off the CSUB eighth with his second home of the series to give CSUB some breathing room at 5-3. Akitoshki opened the Matadors' eighth with a blooper to center. Weiss would pop out to second. Berry singled to left to allow the tying run to reach base. Toerner's shot to right was caught by Gusbeth at the warning track, allowing Akitoshki to move up 90-feet. Bumstead went down 0-2 in the count, swinging at a pair of White curve balls.  White again went to an off-speed pitch which Bumstead hit to short. Jones scooped the grounder up and threw to Metzgar at second for the final out.

After CSUB was retired in order in the top of the ninth, White struck out Ruiz to get CSUN's half underway. Pinch hitter Jayson Newman grounded out to short. Colantono struck out looking to end the game and allow White to earn a three-inning save in his first collegiate pitching appearance.

“I didn't know what to expect from Cody, but he was outstanding,” Macaluso said. “So we battled and got some key hits late and won the series.”

Frailey, who was 2-for-4 with a run scored, tied the school record for most stolen bases in a game with two. He is the eighth different 'Runner to steal two bases in a game and it is the 15th time it has occurred in the 7+ year history of the CSUB program. Carter and Jones both tallied two hits. The Roadrunner bullpen pitched a total of five innings as the quartet of 'Runner pitchers combined to strike out 10 and limit the Matadors to six hits. Akitoshki led CSUN by going 2-for-3.

The Roadrunners return home Friday when the Roadrunners host defending Big East Champion St. John's for a three-game series. 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~