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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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Mark Nessia/Mark Nessia Photography
3
Hawaii UH 20-13
4
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 14-21
Hawaii UH
20-13
3
Final
4
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
14-21
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Hawaii UH 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 8 0
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 X 4 7 2

W: Meza, Isaac (1-0) L: Yelland, Jeremy (1-2) S: King, Kyle (2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Martinez Powers `Runners to Victory over Hawaii

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Senior Luis Martinez belted two solo home runs to left field and the CSU Bakersfield baseball team got a great start out of sophomore Isaac Meza to defeat the University of Hawaii 4-3 on Wednesday night at Hardt Field. 

Trailing 1-0 after the first inning, Martinez cranked a home run off the light pole in left field to knot the score.

After Meza (1-0) tossed his second consecutive scoreless inning, the `Runners jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third on a two-out double by Andrew Penner.  Martinez struck again in the fourth as he went deep to nearly the same spot and put CSUB up 4-1. 

"It was just great to get an opportunity and be able to do something about it," said Martinez.  "I was just looking for a fastball and I got it.  I thought his (Koch) was gone to be honest. I was just looking for a fastball after that. He started him off with a couple breaking balls, but I knew he was going to come after me."
 
Meza continued to cruise on the mound, but ran into some trouble in his last inning.  With the bases loaded and just one out, he got a strikeout and some great defensive work by Penner at first base to escape the inning.  The sophomore threw a career-high five innings and struck out a career-best four batters to earn his second win of his career and first of the 2018 season. 

Hawaii pulled closer in the sixth as Ethan Lopez hit a two-run homer off of CSUB reliever Isaiah Moten.  Davonte Butler took the ball from Moten in the seventh and was fantastic.  He struck out three batters in two innings pitched and didn't allow a hit. 

With the CSUB offense unable to push across any insurance runs, Kyle King entered the game in the ninth to close it out.  King allowed a single to center field to start the inning, but on the following sacrifice bunt attempt, catcher Jake Ortega tossed to second to get the lead runner, who failed to slide, so the batter was ruled out because of runner interference.  With the bases cleared, King got a lineout to Daniel Carrizosa to end the game and pick up his second save. 

"It was nice to play another complete baseball game," said CSUB head coach Jeremy Beard.  "The guys pitched it well. Meza came out and did a heck of a job commanding the ball. He mixed in his pitches and threw his changeup for collision. We beat a really good team right there."

Martinez's two home run game was the first since Sergio Robles hit two home runs against Seattle U on May 26 of last season.  He has now hit three home runs in his last four games.  Penner and left fielder Christian Deaton both had two hits and a double to pace the `Runner offense. 

The Rainbow Warriors' Jeremy Yelland (1-2) took the loss for Hawaii after giving up the double to Penner in the third.  Hawaii is currently leading the Big West conference with a 6-3 record.  

CSUB (14-21, 4-5 WAC) remains home this weekend as they host Sacramento State for a three-game conference series.  The series begins on Friday night at 6:00 p.m.
 
 
 
 
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