BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—CSU Bakersfield nearly rallied from a six-run deficit against UC Irvine Tuesday night, but fell 7-6 to the Anteaters Tuesday night.  

UC Irvine (19-10) posted four hits and took advantage of two CSUB errors to score three runs in the top of the first. Mahlik Jones doubled in Dustin Frailey in the bottom of the first to break the seal for the Roadrunners.

The Roadrunners threatened in the second and third, but each time, the Roadrunners stranded a pair of runners on. The Anteaters broke the game open in the in the top of the fifth. UCI sent eight batters to the plate, scoring four runs (two unearned) to extend the lead to 7-1.

Pinch-hitter Junior Felix smacked his first home run of the year, only his second hit of the campaign, with one out in the bottom of the seventh.  Cody White would double in a pair of runs later in the seventh to make it a 7-4 game.

Pinch-hitter Chance Gusbeth led off the CSUB eighth with a single up the middle. Sergio Robles was hit by a Ben Ritchey pitch to bring up Nick Vehlewald who struck out. Felix's dribbler back to Ritchey allowed both baserunners to advance a base. Frailey's blooper to right fell in front of Adam Alcantara, plating a pair of runs. The Anteaters went to the bullpen for the fifth time of the game, calling upon their closer, Calvin Faucher to face Jones. With the count 2-1 in favor of CSUB, Jones flew out to right to end the inning.

Faucher allowed a one-out single in the ninth to White before Ryan Grotjohn singled to left center to put the tying run in scoring position. Gusbeth grounded out to third, but both runners moved up 90 feet. Robles struck out looking for the final out of the game.

Frailey tallied his team leading 16th multi-hit of the season as he went 3-for-5. Frailey tied or broke his third school record of the year, stealing four bases. Eight different Roadrunners held the previous record of two stolen bases in a game.

Jones posted his 10th multi-hit game of the year. The 6-4 junior was 2-for-5. He also pitched two scoreless innings, striking out four. White also charted two hits.  CSUB outhit UCI 12-9. Cole Kreuter and Alcantrana would both record two hits for UC Irvine. Alcantrana also drove in two runs.  The Anteaters have now won nine in a row in the series against CSUB dating back to the 2011 season.

CSUB (7-24, 2-7 WAC) travels to Northern Colorado (6-22, 1-5 WAC) this weekend to open a three-game series beginning Friday at 3 p.m. (MDT). The Roadrunners return home next Tuesday to begin a five-game home stand against Cal State Fullerton. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Tickets are available through the CSUB Ticket Office at (661) 654-BLUE or tickets@csub.edu, or online at Vallitix.com.

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