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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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Mark Nessia/Mark Nessia Photography
1
Dartmouth College DART 2-6
4
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 7-11
Dartmouth College DART
2-6
1
Final
4
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
7-11
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Dartmouth College DART 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 1
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 X 4 9 1

W: Cutting, Ben (1-3) L: O'Connor, Cole (1-2) S: Dewsnap, Naithen (3)

Game Recap: Baseball |

`Runners Win Series Opener Against Dartmouth

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The CSU Bakersfield baseball team beat Dartmouth College 4-1 on Thursday night at Hardt Field behind a strong pitching performance from starter Ben Cutting and clutch hits by Ryan Koch and Jared Toothman. 

Koch provided Cutting and the rest of the Roadrunner (7-11) pitching staff all of the run support they needed in his first at-bat of the ball game, clubbing a two-run triple down the left field line that kicked around in the corner and allowed Austyn Tengan and Andrew Penner to scamper home. 

Cutting (1-3) allowed five hits in 6 2/3 innings pitched and struck out four Big Green (2-6) batters to earn his first win in a `Runner uniform.  The start was a career-long and he also set a new career-high in strikeouts.  The junior allowed just two hits in the first five innings and set Dartmouth down in order in the fourth and the fifth. 

A pair of walks came back to haunt the junior in the seventh as the Big Green scratched across their first run of the game after two free passes and a single up the middle.  Kyle King relieved Cutting and walked the first batter he faced to load the bases with two outs.  King bounced back though and got a fly out to end the threat. 

"He (Cutting) was dialed in," said CSUB manager Jeremy Beard.  "We had a short hook on him last weekend for a reason, to bring him back on Thursday and he did exactly what we hoped he would do.  Hopefully, he builds on that and continues to grow.  He's a very competitive left-handed pitcher that we expect big things out of," said Beard.   

For Cutting, it was an improvement on something he's been working on throughout the season that made the difference on Thursday night. 

"I think for me, it was establishing first-pitch strikes.  I've struggled with that all year." 

With runners and second and third and two outs in the bottom seventh, CSUB was still clinging to a one-run lead.  Beard called on Jared Toothman to pinch-hit and the freshman responded with a base hit to left field to push the game to 4-1.

"Coach had the confidence in me and I was able to see a pitch that I wanted to hit and I was able to get it and do my job," said Toothman.    

Despite his youth, Beard is unafraid to call on the freshman outfielder. 

"That was an excellent pinch hit, two-RBI single by Toothman," said Beard.  "He sat on a breaking ball that was elevated and did exactly what he was supposed to with it and it changed the game.    

King gave way to Naithen Dewsnap in the ninth and the closer faced the minimum in the final frame to earn his third save of the season. 

Austyn Tengan and Andrew Penner both had two hits apiece and the duo executed two hit and run plays to perfection.  Daniel Carrizosa also had two hits in the ball game and made some quality defense plays at third base. 

"It's really nice to be home, said Beard.  "These kids have been working really hard on the road and playing some exceptional teams. We played a sound baseball game tonight at home and pitched it well.  We got a great start out of Ben and played some pretty good defense. It really was an all-around good team effort." 

CSUB will remain at home through Sunday against the Big Green.  First pitch at Hardt Field tomorrow night is slated for 6:00 p.m.
 
 
 
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