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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography
8
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 10-13, 1-0 WAC
5
UT Rio Grande Valley UTRGV 13-10, 0-1 WAC
Winner
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
10-13, 1-0 WAC
8
Final
5
UT Rio Grande Valley UTRGV
13-10, 0-1 WAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 8 8 1
UT Rio Grande Valley UTRGV 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 5 4 3

W: Daily, Alec (2-0) L: Johnson, Carter (1-2) S: Dewsnap, Naithen (5)

Game Recap: Baseball |

CSUB Hangs On to Win Conference Opener

EDINBURG, Texas -  All seemed to be well for the Roadrunners on Friday night in the Western Athletic Conference opener.  Alec Daily hadn't allowed a hit through seven innings and Sergio Robles had just blasted a grand slam to give the CSU Bakersfield baseball team a 7-0 lead.  The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley wouldn't go down without a fight though and exploded for five runs in the eighth, but it was the `Runners who emerged victorious, 8-5. 

The `Runners (10-13) pounced on Vaquero ace Carter Johnson on their first opportunity.  After a one-out walk to Jake Ortega, Andrew Penner singled, Jared Toothman doubled and Evan Berkey singled to give the visitors an early 3-0 lead.  It was a good thing the CSUB offense seized the opportunity against Johnson as he settled in and tossed five straight scoreless innings to keep UTRGV within striking distance. 

Making just his second start of the season, Daily (2-0) was unhittable through seven innings and made an impressive play in the field on a base-hit bunt attempt in the seventh inning.  Daily's seven inning set a new career high and his eight strikeouts also were a career best. 

"Alec did a fantastic job of competing tonight and our ball club rallied behind him," said CSUB manager Jeremy Beard.  "He was effective on both sides of the plate and showed a veteran presence out there.  He has worked hard to come back and deserved everything he got tonight."

Sergio Robles seemed to put the game away in the eighth as he blasted a grand slam over the left field fence to make the score 7-0.  Tonight was just Robles' fourth game back from an injury he sustained in the season opener.  The grand slam was the first for a `Runner since Martin Medina hit one against Valparaiso University on March 2, 2011.    

"It is great to have Sergio back in the lineup," said Beard.  "His timing is coming along well and he makes us better. The homer was timely."

Daily got in trouble in the eighth as he loaded the with nobody out.  He then relinquished his first hit of the game, a triple, that cut the CSUB advantage to 7-3.  Beard called on Elijah Parks for some relief, but Parks didn't last long as he gave up a two-run homer to his first batter.  After a strikeout and another single, it was time for Naithen Dewsnap.  Dewsnap served up a single to his first batter, but got a strikeout and a fly out to escape the inning. 

Toothman came through with another RBI in the ninth to provide some insurance and it was more than enough as the closer put the Vaqueros down 1-2-3 in the ninth to earn his fifth save of the season.

"Dewsnap had a more controlled presence out there tonight," said Beard.  "He was in control and learned a lot the past couple weeks.  This environment is challenging and he was able to slow the game down."

Toothman was 4-for-4 with a double and two RBI tonight, while Andrew Penner got back in the hit column twice after going hitless in the last two games.  Robles tied a career-high with four RBI. 

Game 2 begins tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. CST. Davonte Butler (1-3) will likely start for CSUB on the mound against UTRGV's Jorge Flores (2-1). 
 
 
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