BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Playing for the first time since 2011, Loyola Marymount defeated CSU Bakersfield 17-5 in baseball action Wednesday night at Hardt Field.

A two-RBI double from Cassidy Brown keyed a three-run scoring spurt for the Lions in the top of the first. A CSUB error along the way made two of the runs unearned.  Loyola Marymount plated one in the top of the third for a 4-0 advantage.  

Helped by a pair of diving catches in the outfield, Loyola Marymount pitcher Brenton Arriaga retired the first 10 Roadrunners he faced before giving up a Mahlik Jones single in the bottom of the fourth. Jones' single extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Arriaga gave up the first CSUB run in the bottom of the fifth when Chance Gusbeth singled in Sergio Robles.

CSUB starter Garrett Nimmo retired nine in a row as the game headed into the LMU sixth. With one out, he walked Jamey Smart before hitting Niko Decolati. Nimmo got Kyle Dozier to fly out to center. Up 1-2 against Sean Watkins, Nimmo hit Watkins to load the bases. Billy Wilson would walk to score Smart.  Mahlik Jones relieved Nimmo to face Spencer Erdman. Erdman singled to left to drive in two runs. Ben Caulfield grounded out to first to complete the sixth.

Jones walked the bases loaded in the LMU seventh. The Roadrunners went to the bullpen to call upon Matthew Franco, a lefty, to face Dozier, a left handed batter. Dozier's sac fly to right scored a run. Watkins doubled to right center to drive in two and close the book on Jones. Wilson grounded out to first for the final out.

Arriaga gave up a total of three hits over six innings before giving way to Mark Finklenburg to start the seventh. After getting the first out, Finklenburg gave up a single to Cody White and a walk to Robles. A passed balled advanced the Roadrunners up a base. Gusbeth singled in White to give CSUB baserunners on the corners. Ryan Grotjohn grounded out to first, but it allowed Robles to score to make it 10-3.

LMU pinch-hitter Joe Christian hit a three-run home run before Ted Boeke added a two-run blast in the top of the eighth as the Lions scored five more runs.  LMU would post two in the ninth for the final Lion runs of the night.

Gusbeth hit his third home run of the year, a two-run blast in the bottom of the ninth for the final runs of the night. Brown led the Lions (18-19) recording four (4-of-5) of the 10 Lion hits.  Gusbeth was 3-for-4 with four RBI's. The seven CSUB pitchers walked 10 and hit three batters. The teams won't have to wait five years to play again as the 'Runners head to Loyola Marymount next Tuesday for a 6 p.m. start.

CSUB (7-28) continues the home stand Friday night when the 'Runners open a three-game WAC series against NM State. 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.

Friday's can be heard on ESPN 1230/98.1 FM. A video stream is available via the Roadrunner Sports Network on Bakersfield.com. Saturday's game against the Aggies is a WAC Digital Network presentation with Sunday's game returning to the Roadrunner Sports Network on Bakersfield.com

~www.GoRunners.com~