BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The CSU Bakersfield baseball team will go on the road for the first time this season with a four-game set at California after going 2-2 over the weekend at home to open the 2018 season.
 
Cal went 25-29 in 2017 and have opened the 2018 campaign 1-2 after splitting with San Diego and dropping a 3-1 result to Cincinnati.
 
The Bears are led by Preseason All-Americans Tanner Dodson and First Baseman Andrew Vaughn. Dodson earned first team utility due to his versatility in the field and on the mound.  Vaughn was the PAC-12 Freshman of the Year last season and was voted third team Preseason All-America by Perfect Game/Rawlings.
 
This Cal CSUB battle will have two of the best relievers in the country competing against each other.  Just like `Runners shut down closer Naithen Dewsnap, Cal's Erik Martinez was also named to the 2018 Stopper of the Year watch list by the National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
 
The `Runners opened the season dropping the first two against UC Davis, but CSUB answered and answered in a big way.  The CSUB bats would break out in a big way and the 'Runners would go on to win the final game of the series against UC Davis 14-7.  Saint Mary's would come to Bakersfield on Monday to wrap up the opening home stand for CSUB and the `Runners would win 3-2 to even their record at 2-2.
 
CSUB would be led by freshman Evan Berkey's .533 average (8-15), with two doubles and four runs scored.  Senior Andrew Penner would be just as hot going 7-15 (.467 avg) on the weekend and an on-base pct. (OBP) of .556.  In total, the `Runners have five players with an OBP of .400 or more. 
 
First pitch Friday, Feb. 23 will be at 7 p.m.  CSUB and Cal will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. and Sunday's finale will have a 1 p.m. start at Berkeley.