BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—CSU Bakersfield battled back from a three-run deficit, but would drop a 6-4 decision to Cal Poly Tuesday night.

CSUB turned double plays in each of the first two innings to keep the Mustangs (29-22) from charging ahead. Cal Poly broke the seal in the top of the third when the Mustangs' Brett Barbier smacked a two-run single. The Roadrunners got their third double play in as many innings to keep the deficit at two. Kevin Morgan increased the lead to 3-0 a two-out home run in the top of the fourth.

After suspending all three of their weekend starters for a violation of teams rules last weekend, the Mustangs used the two of the trio to pitch at the beginning of the game against the 'Runners. Jarred Zill, the normal Cal Poly Sunday starter, opened the game, gave up one hit, and thanks to a second inning double play, he faced only the minimum of 12 through his four-inning stint.

Zill, the normal Sunday starter for Cal Poly, gave way to the Mustangs' normal Friday night starter, lefty Kyle Smith, to start the fifth. Nick Vehlewald, who recorded the first CSUB hit in the second, walked on four pitches. Chance Gusbeth singled to advance Vehlewald and bring up Ryan Grotjohn. Grotjohn attempted to sacrifice both Vehlewald and Gusbeth over and got up 3-0 in the count against Smith. Grotjohn would end up singling through the right side to load the bases. Mahlik Jones worked the count in his favor at 3-1 before driving in Vehlewald with a single to left. The bases remained loaded for Cody White.

The right handed hitting White would face a new pitcher, lefty Justin Bruihl, who relieved Smith. Bruihl needed six pitches to strike out White. Junior Felix earned his seventh hit of the year (in 61 at-bats) to drive in Gusbeth. On a 2-2 Bruihl pitch, he Roadrunners' leading hitter, Dustin Frailey, hit a grounder in front of the plate which was fielded by Nick Meyer, the Mustangs' catcher. Meyer stepped on home and threw down to first to complete the double play and get Cal Poly out of the inning.

Three Mustang hits loaded the bases in the top of the sixth, bringing up the Cal Poly leadoff hitter, Alex McKenna. Max Carter, the CSUB starting pitcher, got McKenna to pop out to right for the second out. The ball wasn't deep enough for any of the runners to advance.  CSUB went to lefty Adam Coats to face the left handed hitting Kyle Marinconz. Marinconz hit a ball into the hole at first which White fielded on his backhand. White got up, tossed the ball to Coats, covering the base, and getting the final out.

Drew Seelman and David Metzgar posted back-to-back singles to lead off the 'Runner sixth. Vehlewald, the CSUB cleanup hitter, attempted to sacrifice the runners up a base, but Meyer fielded the bunt up the third base line and threw to third to get Seelman for the first out. Gusbeth singled back to Bruihl. Bruihl threw the ball away, allowing Metzgar to score and Vehlewald to go to third. Gusbeth would end up on second on the play. Grotjohn struck out.

Cal Poly went to the bullpen again, this time going to righty Slater Lee to face the right handed hitting Jones. Jones, who is second on the Roadrunners in RBI's, was pitched carefully and was walked on four pitches. White was again up with the bases loaded. He hit a soft grounder to short which he was able to beat out, allowing Vehlewald to score and give the 'Runners a 4-3 lead. After a 10-pitch at-bat, Lee would strike out looking to leave the bases loaded.

With one out in the seventh, John Schuknecht walked and would then steal his second base of the night. The stolen base proved to be valuable as he came around to score on a Meyer single up the middle and tie the game. Josh George walked to bring up Michael Sanderson. 

Jones would move from third to the mound to face Sanderson. Sanderson's shot towards the new third baseman, Joey Sanchez, took a hop, and bounced into left to score Meyer. After Morgan was called out on the infield fly rule to short, Brett Binning struck out. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh Metzgar and Sanchez both reached on infield singles. Gusbeth would face Cal Poly's normal Saturday starter, Erich Uelman, who came on in relief. After a 0-2 wild pitch that put both runners in scoring position, Uelman would strike out Gusbeth looking to get the third out.

Morgan added an insurance run with an RBI triple in the top of the ninth. Lee would get the victory with Uelman retired the seven batters he faced to pick up his first save. Six of the nine Cal Poly starters recorded at least two hits with Morgan posting a team high 3-of-5 performance. The Mustangs would record 15 hits compared to 11 for the Roadrunners. Gusbeth and Metzgar each had two hits for CSUB.  The teams combined to leave 19 runners on (12 for Cal Poly, seven for CSUB).

CSUB (15-35, 9-14 WAC) hosts North Dakota (8-34, 4-20 WAC) in the final three-game series of the season beginning Thursday night. 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. The game is available on the WAC Digital Network and can be heard on 1230 AM/98.1 FM ESPN radio beginning at 5:45 p.m. with Corey Costelloe on the call.

~www.GoRunners.com~