BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—The busiest week of the CSU Bakersfield baseball season begins Tuesday night for the Roadrunners. CSUB begins a stretch of six-games in seven days against Cal State Fullerton. First pitch against the Titans is set for 6 p.m.
CSUB and Cal State Fullerton split a pair of games last season with each team winning on their home field. The Titans lead the all-time series 2-1. The Titans are ranked 28th in the Collegiate Baseball Top 30 that was released Apr. 18. Cal State Fullerton is 21-13.
Dalton Blaser is the Titans' top hitter (.345). Tanner Pinkston has the most Cal State Fullerton RBI's (24) while Timmy Richards leads the team in home runs (5). CSUB's AJ Monarrez (2-4) will get the controlled start for the Roadrunners while the Titans have not announced a starter. Monarrez is expected to go 3-4 innings before giving way to the 'Runner bullpen
Wednesday's 6 p.m. matchup is the first of two games between CSUB and LMU in the next week. The Roadrunners travel to Los Angeles next Tuesday for a 6 p.m. game.
The Roadrunners and the Lions are playing for the first time since the 2011 season when LMU swept the 'Runners in a three-game series. Loyola Marymount leads the all-time series 4-2. Cassidy Brown leads the Lions in hitting (.333), hits (48), doubles (10), home runs (6), RBI's (.542), and slugging percentage (.542).
The Roadrunners start Garrett Nimmo (1-3) while the Lions have not announced a probable starter for the game. You can listen to the game on GoRunners.com
CSU Bakersfield begins a three-game Western Athletic Conference against NM State Friday night. Friday and Saturday's games will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday's finale gets underway at 12 p.m. CSUB and NMSU played to a 1-1-1 series last season in Las Cruces. The Roadrunners lead the all-time series 5-4-1.
NM State is the most improved team in the WAC, going from 11-36-1 last season to 21-14 overall mark, 9-3 in league play. The Aggies' Daniel Johnson is arguably one of the top players in the WAC. He leads the league in stolen bases (19), runs scored (37), and is tied for the WAC lead in triples (4) with CSUB's Dustin Frailey. Johnson is 11th in the league in hitting (.340).
Max Carter (0-5) will probably face Chris Kucko (R, 0-0) on Friday. Andrew Hansen (2-5) will probably pitch against Kyle Bradish (R, 4-3) on Saturday before the series concludes with a probable matchup of Monarrez against Marcel Renteria (R, 3-3).
Friday's game will be streamed on the Roadrunner Sports Network (youtube.com/CSUBAthletics) while Saturday's will be available on the WAC Digital Network. Friday and Saturday's games will be broadcasted by 1230 AM/98.1 FM ESPN.
~www.GoRunners.com~
