BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—CSU Bakersfield scored five runs in the first three innings and never looked back as the Roadrunners defeated NM State 8-2 to take their second Western Athletic Conference series in the past three weeks.

RBI's from Sergio Robles and Junior Felix in the bottom of the second gave the Roadrunners an early advantage. Mahlik Jones worked out a nine-pitch walk off of NMSU starter Steven Butts to lead off the third. David Metzgar attempted to sacrifice Jones to second, but Butts' throw went wide of second, allowing Jones to reach third. Max Carter doubled down the right field line to score Jones. As Metzgar approached third, the Aggies' Dan Hetzel bobbled the ball, allowing Metzgar to score.  Carter advanced to third on a Butts' wild pitch.

NMSU went to the pen, bringing in Chris Kucko to face Drew Seelman. With the infield in, Seelman grounded out to short. NM State kept the infield in against Chance Gusbeth. Gusbeth was able to drive a Kucko pitch to right center that was deep enough for Carter to score for a 5-0 CSUB lead. Kucko struck out Robles to conclude the frame.

CSUB starter AJ Monarrez carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before Jason Bush singled up the middle with two outs. Roman Trujillo followed with a single to right that brought up the Aggies' leading hitter, Daniel Johnson.  Monarrez induced a Johnson ground out to second for the third out.

Metzgar led off the bottom of the fifth with an infield single. Carter hit a grounder to NMSU third baseman Brent Sakurai. Sakurai's throw was high allowing Carter to reach safely. Seelman laid down a successful sac bunt to advance both runnres. Gusbeth tripled to right to score both and make it a 7-0 game. Christian Deaton hit a grounder back to NMSU reliever Andy Frakes which became the second out and kept Gusbeth at third. Ryan Grotjohn walked before Felix struck out to end the inning.

LJ Hatch doubled down the third base line to lead off the NM State sixth. Austin Botello struck out, but a Felix passed ball allowed Botello to reach first and advance Hatch to third. Hetzel grounded out to short as Hatch scored. Botello went to second before Cameron Haskins walked. Pinch hitter Joseph Koerper reach on an infield single after Monarrez was late to cover the first bag. Sakurai became Monarrez's ninth strikeout victim for the second out. Pinch hitter Mason Fishback grounded out to Carter at first for the third out.

Dustin Frailey doubled to get the CSUB sixth underway. A Jones fly ball to center was deep enough for Frailey to tag and advance to third. NMSU brought the infield in against Metzgar before the 'Runner second baseman singled up the middle to drive in Frailey. NMSU's fourth pitcher of the game, Ruger Rodriguez struck out Carter before getting Seelman to foul out to third to conclude the sixth.  

Monarrez's nine strikeouts were a career high as he gave way to Gusbeth to start the NM State (22-17, 10-5 WAC) seventh.  Gusbeth retired the Aggies in order in the seventh before giving up a Botello single to lead off the eighth. Botello was caught stealing second on Gusbeth breaking ball in the dirt that Jake Ortega was able field and throw down for the out. Getting the first out was big for the 'Runners as Hetzel walked immediately after Botello. Haskins reached on a 3-6 fielder's choice. Gusbeth hung a 0-2 change up in the zone which Koerper turned on it for a single to left. Gusbeth struck out Sakurai to keep the Aggies off the board.

Zak Felix walked with one out in the ninth and moved to second with two outs when Hatch reached on an infield single. Botello singled up the middle to score Felix. With runners on the corners for Hetzel, a Gusbeth wild pitch advanced Botello to second. Hetzel would ground out to complete the game.

Monarrez and Gusbeth combined for 12 strikeouts. At the plate, Gusbeth drove in a season high three runs. Metzgar was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI. For the second time this season, Frailey tied the school record for most doubles in game with two. He recorded his 21st multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-5. Carter was 2-for-5 with three runs scored and a RBI.  Hatch, Botello, and Koerper had two hits for NMSU.

CSUB (9-29, 4-10 WAC) travels to Loyola Marymount (19-20) Tuesday for a 6 p.m. start before heading to Utah Valley (22-18, 8-7 WAC) for a three game WAC series in Orem that gets underway Friday at 6 p.m. (MDT).

The Roadrunners return home May 13 against Chicago State which will begin a seven game home stand that concludes the regular season. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Tickets are available through e CSUB Ticket Office at (661) 654-BLUE or tickets@csub.edu, or online at Vallitix.com.

~www.GoRunners.com~