BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Despite having the tying run on in each of the final four innings, CSU Bakersfield could not overcome a 5-0 deficit and fell 5-4 to St. John's Friday night at Hardt Field.

Jesse Beradi singled to lead off the top of the third for the Red Storm. Ty Blankmeyer worked the Steven Gee count to 3-2 before being hit by a pitch. Alex Caruso's bunt single loaded the bases for Michael Donadio. Donadio singled to right to drive in Beradi, but a quick throw in by Chance Gusbeth kept the bases loaded. Josh Shaw singled off CSUB second baseman David Metzgar. The ball ended up in short center allowing two runs to score.

St. John's clean-up hitter Robbie Knightes put down a successful sacrifice bunt to push the runners up a base. Aiden McDermott singled to right to plate Donaido. Shaw scored on a Gee wild pitch to make it 5-0. Troy Dixon appeared to have fly out to right, but he was awarded first base on catcher's interference. flew out to right. Anthony Brocato flew out to left to bring up Beradi for the second time in the inning. Beradi grounded out to first to end the inning.

With one out in the bottom of the fourth SJU starter Joey Christopher issued back-to-back walks to Cody White and David Metzgar. After a meeting with Red Storm pitching coach Corey Muscara, Christopher uncorked a wild pitch that allowed the runners to advance. Christopher would walk Max Carter to load the bases. Gusbeth's sacrifice fly was dropped by Caruso in right center field. White and Metzgar scored as Carter made it to third.

Gusbeth advanced to second on the play. Joey Sanchez's sac fly drove in White as Metzgar remained at second. Ryan Grotjohn singled to left to drove home Gusbeth, chasing Christopher in favor of Joe Napolitano. Napolitano struck out Drew Seelman to get the Johnnies out of the fourth.

Brocato walked to open the St. John's sixth. Berardi successfully sacrificed Brocato to second. On a 2-2 count to Blankmeyer, Brocato made it to third on a CSUB passed ball. Blankmeyer walked. Blankmeyer was Gee's last batter as head coach Bob Macaluso called in lefty Adam Coats from the bullpen to face the left handed hitting Caruso.

The Roadrunners threatened in the sixth. Carter and Gusbeth recorded back-to-back singles with one out. Sanchez struck out as Carter was thrown out attempting to steal third. The 2-5 DP concluded the inning for the 'Runners.

St. John's played the percentages, going to lefty Turner French to face the left handed hitting Ryan Grotjohn to open the seventh. Grotjohn walked so both teams made changes. Sergio Robles pinch-hit for Seelman as Kevin Torres relieved French. French struck out Robles before being called for a balk that allowed Grotjohn to go to second. Mahlik Jones hit liner into right center that Caruso tracked down. With two away, Dustin Frailey worked the count to 3-2 before striking out on a Torres fastball.

Brocato walked with one out in the top of the eight. After Berardi flew out to center, Blankmeyer reached on the third CSUB error of the night, a bad throw by Grotjohn at third. Macaluso went to the percentages again, bringing in another lefty Matthew Franco to match up against Caruso. The move didn't pay off for the Roadrunners as Franco walked Caruso on five pitches. Franco went down 2-0 in the count to Donadio before coming back to strike him out looking to quell the threat.

The fifth Red Storm pitcher of the game, Thomas Hackimer, struck out White to begin the eighth. Metzgar singled to right before a Carter ground out to second advanced him a base. Gusbeth hit a floater to right center which Caruso played perfectly, grabbing the ball for the third out.

Hackimer struck out pinch-hitter Christian Deaton for the first out of the ninth. Grotjohn and pinch-hitter Nick Vehlewald worked out walks against Hackmeier. The third CSUB pinch-hitter of the inning, Jake Ortega, grounded into the third St. John's double play (6-4-3) of the night to end the game.

“Unfortunately one bad inning cost us,” Macaluso said. “Overall, I thought our bullpen was strong. I'm not happy that we lost, but we had an opportunity to win and that's what we want to do.”

The five CSUB pitchers held the Red Storm to six hits while the five SJU pitchers held the 'Runners to five hits. The Red Storm left 10 on base, compared to five for CSU Bakersfield.

The series between St. John's (2-2) and CSUB (2-2) continues Saturday with first pitch set for 12 p.m. Tickets are available through the CSUB  Ticket Office at (661) 654-BLUE or tickets@csub.edu, or online at Vallitix.com.

~www.GoRunners.com~