Box Score BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—CSU Bakersfield starter Andrew Hansen retired 15 St. John's batters in a row at one point to lead the Roadrunners past the Red Storm 10-4 Saturday afternoon.
Hansen struggled early giving up two hits in the top of the first as a Robbie Knightes RBI single gave St. John's an early advantage. Max Carter tied the game for the Roadrunners in the bottom of the first when his single drove in Dustin Frailey.
Frailey put the Roadrunners into the lead with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the second. CSUB loaded the bases with two outs when David Metzgar smacked a double down the left field line that scored a pair for a 4-1 CSUB advantage.
Frailey and Cody White posted back-to-back singles with one out in the bottom of the fourth. Metzgar was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up the double play with Carter at the plate. The move didn't pay off as SJU reliever Cole Whitney walked Carter which allowed Frailey to score. Joe Kelley, the fourth Red Storm pitcher of the day, came on to take on Chance Gusbeth. Gusbeth would record a sac fly that drove in White for the sixth CSUB run. Kelley got Mahlik Jones to ground out to short to conclude matters.
Frailey picked up his fourth hit of the day when he tripled in Drew Seelman in the bottom of the fifth to give the Roadrunners a 7-1 lead. Two SJU errors led to two CSUB runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Hansen would give up one more hit, a two-out single in the sixth. He retired 17 of the final 18 batters he faced, needing only 65 pitches (50 for strikes) to get through seven innings of work. He struck out five before giving way to Garrett Nimmo to start the eighth.
“Andrew was outstanding,” said CSUB head coach Bob Macaluso. “He dominated them with a three-pitch mix.”
Mark Venice tallied a two-out RBI single in the top of the eighth to make it 9-2. Pinch-hitter Troy Hughes put the 'Runners into double figures with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth.
Gui Gingras hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth off of the third CSUB pitcher of the day, Joe Mata. Aiden McDermott singled off Mata which resulted in Jones coming in from short to pitch to Anthony Brocato. Jones got Brocato to fly out to left. Kyle Cunningham grounded into a 5-4 fielder's choice which brought up John Valente. Jones struck out Valente to end the game.
Frailey went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI's. Carter was 2-for-3 with two RBI's. Seven different Red Storm players tallied a hit.
“We were able to hit the ball really hard all day,” Macaluso said. “It was a good win for us today.”
The series between St. John's (2-3) and CSUB (3-2) concludes Sunday 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.
“I'm excited for Sunday,” Macaluso said. “AJ Monarrez is going to start. I want to get good starting pitching and good defense and see if we can win the series.”
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