BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—The CSU Bakersfield team wraps up the regular season with four games and a chance to make the Western Athletic Conference Tournament.
The CSUB (15-34) week got off to a good start as Ryan Grotjohn was named WAC Hitter of the Week May 16. He hit safely in all four games as the Roadrunners went 4-0 on the week. In a win at 18th-ranked UC Santa Barbara, Grotjohn was 3-for-5 with two RBIs. He followed that up with a 5-for-8 series against Chicago State, finishing with six runs scored and three RBIs, including a double in each game. Hitting .615 on the week, Grotjohn also posted an .846 slugging percentage and .688 on-base percentage.
Action begins Tuesday night when the Roadrunners host Cal Poly at 6 p.m. The Mustangs (28-22) defeated the Roadrunners 8-4 Mar. 29 in San Luis Obispo. Cal Poly leads the all-time series 15-6. The Mustangs took a weekend series from UC Irvine Sunday when Cal Poly defeated the Anteaters 17-5. Brent Barbier is the Mustangs' leading hitter (.365). Jason Schuknecht has hit a team leading six home runs and has driven in a team high 43 runs. The Mustangs are expected to use several different pitchers while Max Carter (0-7) is the Roadrunner probable starter.
The CSUB push to defend their WAC Tournament title will involve the season ending series against North Dakota. The Roadrunners will play the Fighting Hawks Thursday night and Friday night at 6 p.m. before Saturday's noon start. CSUB leads the all-time series against North Dakota 6-1. Thursday's game is on the WAC Digital Network with radio coverage on 1230 ESPN/98.1 FM at 5:45 with Corey Costelloe on the call.
Entering this week, four teams, Seattle U (19-5), NM State (18-6), Utah Valley (15-9), and Sacramento State (15-9) have clinched a spot in the six-team tournament. Grand Canyon (11-13) is sixth but is not eligible as the 'Lopes continue to transition to Division I.
Due to weather, the Roadrunners (9-14), Northern Colorado (10-10), and UT Rio Grande Valley (9-12) will not play the full 27-game conference schedule. According to conference rules, if teams do not play a full conference schedule, a team's winning percentage will determine who gets one of the playoff spots.
The following scenarios are in play for the three clubs; Northern Colorado is in tournament with at least one win. CSUB must finish with one more win than UTRGV or a sweep of North Dakota and a NM State sweep of Northern Colorado. UTRGV is in the WAC Tournament with sweep of Grand Canyon or an equal amount of wins as CSUB or two wins against GCU and a NM State sweep of Northern Colorado.
North Dakota announced earlier this Spring that the 2016 season would be the last as a varsity program. The Fighting Hawks are 8-34 and have been eliminated from WAC Tournament contention with a 4-20 league record.
Miles Lewis is seventh in the WAC in hitting (.356). UND's Friday night starter, Zach Muckenhirn, leads the league in strikeouts with 90. Muckenhirn is seventh in the WAC in ERA (3.37).
On Thursday night, CSUB will start Isaiah Moten (1-3) against Muckenhirn (3-7). Friday's probable starter for the Roadrunners will be Andrew Hansen (3-7). Hansen should Brett DeGagne (1-9). On Sunday, AJ Monarrez (4-5) should get the call for CSUB on Sunday against McKay McNair (1-7).
