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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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Damian Henderson
Mark Duffel
6
Utah Valley UVU 11-31
9
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 18-27
Utah Valley UVU
11-31
6
Final
9
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
18-27
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Utah Valley UVU 0 0 1 1 0 3 0 1 0 6 9 2
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 5 9 12 3

W: Altamirano, Kevin (1-0) L: Schmit, Jesse (4-6)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Henderson Walks Off Wolverines

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – With baserunners on first and second, two outs and the score tied at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth, CSU Bakersfield sophomore Damian Henderson hooked a 3-2 pitch around the right field foul pole for his first career home run and delivered the Roadrunners a walk-off, 9-6 victory over Utah Valley. 
 
"Damian has been swinging it so well lately, and his game has come so far," said CSUB Head Coach Jeremy Beard.  "He's worked so hard to be where he is.  To see him get that result was really special."

The Roadrunners (18-27, 6-11 WAC) were trailing 6-4 heading into their final at-bat, but scored five times in the final frame to pull out the thrilling victory.  Noah Barba walked to start the inning and senior catcher Jake Ortega followed with his first career home run to tie the score at 6-6. 
 
Jesse Rowley continued the momentum in the next at-bat with a single to right center and was bunted into scoring position by Sergio Robles.  With a base open, the Wolverines intentionally walked Tyler Jorgensen to set up a double play.  After Evan Berkey was retired, the stage was set for Henderson's heroics.  It was just the third walk-off home run in school history and the first since Jeremy Rodriguez hit a three-run shot to beat Pacific 4-1 on May 14, 2010.  The last time CSUB walked off an opponent was on May 14, 2016 when David Metzgar singled to beat Chicago State.  

"They kept on bringing the curve ball outside and it kept coming across the plate," said Henderson, who fouled off two pitches to keep the at-bat alive.  "I kept on nicking it and then finally he brought it middle in, and I was able to get the enough of the barrel on it.  I hit off the end, but it went over and stayed fair."

Henderson not only hit the game-winner, but had a double and a triple earlier in the game for his first career three-hit contest.  Ortega also had three hits on the night, and the duo both scored a pair of runs.  It was the first time the `Runners homered in the same game all season, let alone the same inning.    

Rowley looked to be the hitting star in the early going as he had RBI singles in the first and third innings and drove in a third run in the fifth on a groundball to first base.  The junior also produced three hits on the evening.  Daniel Carrizosa drove in Henderson in the sixth on a base hit up the middle. 

Kevin Altamirano (1-0) picked up his first career victory after throwing the final three innings and allowing just one hit and one run.  CSUB starter Edgar Barclay was in line for the loss until the ninth-inning magic, despite allowing just one earned run in six innings pitched.  The junior scattered eight hits and struck out 10 batters for the fifth time this season. 

CSUB will aim to win its sixth consecutive home series tomorrow when the two teams meet for the rubber match at 12:00 p.m.
 
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