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Damian Henderson
Mark Duffel

Baseball

CSUB Hosts Santa Clara for Four-Game Series

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The CSU Bakersfield baseball team will host Santa Clara University for a four-game series this weekend at Hardt Field.  The Roadrunners and the Broncos will meet Friday night, twice on Saturday and on Sunday afternoon. 

CSUB (2-7) will be looking to snap a five-game losing streak when they welcome Santa Clara (2-5) on Friday night at 6:00 p.m.  Despite the recent slide, the Roadrunners have received quality starts in four of those contests.  The only starting pitcher that did not have a quality start was Davonte Butler last Tuesday in the home opener.  Butler lasted just over two innings against Cal Poly, but was never expected to throw more than 40-50 pitches.  Offense has been an issue in the early going for CSUB.  The Roadrunners are averaging just 2.3 runs per game and are hitting .200 as a team. 
 
Series History
The Roadrunners and the Broncos haven't met since the 2012 season.  The two programs played three times in the 2011 and 2012 campaigns.  Santa Clara won the first-ever game in the series, but the Roadrunners have won the last five and lead it 5-1.   In 2012, CSUB swept the Broncos at Hardt Field and outscored them 16-6 over the three-game set. 
 
Pitching Matchups
Darius Vines (1-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. Keegan McCarville (1-1, 3.86 ERA)
Vines' Roadrunner debut was electric as the junior right hander struck out seven batters in six innings to beat Cal on opening day.  Vines retired the final nine hitters he faced and got stronger as the game wore on.  He was even better in his second start, chucking six scoreless innings and striking on nine batters against San Francisco. 
 
McCarville has received a decision in each of his starts so far this season.  In his opening start against San Jose State, he lasted just 4.1 innings and allowed six runs to the Spartans.  The junior was much better in his last outing, tossing five scoreless innings in a win over Washington State last weekend. 
 
Ethan Skuija (0-1, 2.45 ERA) vs. Brendan Ecklebarger (1-0, 9.00 ERA)
Skuija had a rough start to his career as a Roadrunner.  He allowed eight runs to score in just 1.1 innings pitched against Pepperdine in the season opener.  Just two of the runs were earned, but he gave up six hits, a grand slam and walked a pair.  The junior settled down in his last two outings, tossing 3.2 scoreless against Ball State and allowed just one run against San Francisco in six innings.  Skuija has struck out 14 batters in his last 9.2 innings on the bump and is tied with Vines for the team lead with 16. 
 
Ecklebarger earned a victory in his last start on Friday.  The junior tossed five innings against Washington State and allowed six hits and two earned runs in the outing.  In two starts and 9.1 innings pitched, the lefty has a 3.86 ERA. 
 
Neither skipper has named a starter for either Saturday's second game or Sunday's finale.  CSUB will likely turn to sophomore Davonte Butler over the weekend at some point and Edgar Barclay started the series finale against San Francisco.  Roman Angelo has made four effective appearances out of the bullpen, but he may be called on as well.  For Santa Clara, Travis Howard has made two short starts and Alex Reelfs started the series finale against Washington State. 
 
Scouting the Broncos
Santa Clara enters Hardt Field with a 2-5 record after weekend series with San José State and Washington State.  The Broncos were swept by the Spartans on opening weekend and were outscored 32-18.  Against the Cougars, Santa Clara won the middle two games, but dropped the opener and the finale. 
 
As a team, Santa Clara is batting .243, but its lineup boasts two hitters with averages over .400.  Cam Allie is hitting .462 on the year and Andre Nnebe is not far behind at .429.  The Broncos do have some thunder in their lineup as they have blasted eight homers in just seven games.  Jason Dicochea, Jake MacNichols and Matt Jew all have hit two long balls. 
 
The Broncos have a team ERA of 5.71 to start the season and have struggled on the mound.  Opposing hitters are hitting .302 off of Santa Clara pitching and they have allowed double digit runs in three of the last five games.  They gave up a season-high 20 in the series finale against San Jose State.  It could be just what the doctor ordered for the CSUB lineup as the Roadrunners have struggled at the plate in the early going. 
 
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Players Mentioned

Davonté Butler

#15 Davonté Butler

RHP
6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
Ethan Skuija

#37 Ethan Skuija

RHP
6' 3"
Junior
R/R
Edgar Barclay

#26 Edgar Barclay

LHP
5' 10"
Junior
L/L
Roman Angelo

#40 Roman Angelo

RHP
6' 4"
Freshman
R/R
Darius Vines

#24 Darius Vines

RHP
6' 1"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Davonté Butler

#15 Davonté Butler

6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
RHP
Ethan Skuija

#37 Ethan Skuija

6' 3"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Edgar Barclay

#26 Edgar Barclay

5' 10"
Junior
L/L
LHP
Roman Angelo

#40 Roman Angelo

6' 4"
Freshman
R/R
RHP
Darius Vines

#24 Darius Vines

6' 1"
Junior
R/R
RHP
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