Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

Next Event

Will Picketts
Mark Duffel

Baseball

CSUB Heads to State Capital for Weekend Series

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Coming off of a series victory over Seattle U, the CSU Bakersfield baseball team will head to Sacramento to meet the Hornets of Sacramento State for a three-game Western Athletic Conference series. 

Series History
CSUB holds a slim 15-13 advantage in the all-time series against Sacramento State and the `Runners have won six out of nine games at John Smith Field. 

Last season in Bakersfield, the Roadrunners won the series opener 7-6, but the Hornets bounced back to win Game 2, 3-1 and the finale, 8-6.  At the WAC Tournament in Mesa, Ariz., Sacramento State ended CSUB's season by beating the `Runners in an elimination game. 

Sergio Robles has had plenty of success in his career against Sacramento State.  In the last two years combined, the senior is hitting .552 with five doubles, three runs scored and four knocked in.  Ryan Koch and Daniel Carrizosa also performed well in last season's series.  Koch was 6-for-14 with a home run, while Carrizosa was 6-for-12.

Scouting the Hornets
Sacramento State is 4-2 and in a four-way tie with New Mexico State, UTRGV and Grand Canyon for first in the conference after the first two league series.  CSUB is just one game back in the standings at 3-3.  The Hornets received two first-place votes and were picked to finish third in the WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.  Saturday's starter Scott Randall was selected to the preseason all-conference team after he went 7-3 with a 3.48 ERA as a freshman. 

The Hornets have an 18-10 record so far this season, including a win over now No. 1 UCLA.  Sacramento State also has a win over Cal, who CSUB beat 4-3 on the opening day of the 2019 season.  The lineup has struggled with just a .235 average and a .676 OPS.  Dawsen Bacho has the highest batting average on the team at .289 with eight doubles and 17 RBI.  Martin Vincelli-Simard is hitting just .238, but has four home runs and 23 knocked in. 

On the mound, Sacramento State is one of the top staffs in the conference and currently leads the league in ERA (3.18) and opponents' batting average (.225).  They are also second behind CSUB in strikeouts at 263.  Randall leads the way with a 1.62 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 44.1 innings pitched.  Friday starter Parker Brahms has also been solid with a 3.76 ERA and 45 strikeouts. 

Pitching Matchups
Friday: Darius Vines (4-2, 3.46 ERA) vs. Parker Brahms (2-2, 3.76 ERA)
Vines will be making his eighth start of the season and has produced a 4-2 record with a 3.46 ERA.  The junior leads the WAC in strikeouts with 56, which puts him at 27th nationally.  His last outing was his shortest as a Roadrunner and snapped his streak of six straight starts of six innings pitched and at least seven strikeouts.  He lasted just four innings against Seattle U and struck out four batters. 

Saturday: Ethan Skuija (2-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. Scott Randall (4-1, 1.62 ERA)
Skuija has struggled as of late, but has been solid for most of the season.  The junior has allowed 11 earned runs in his last 5.2 innings pitched.  He lasted just 1.1 innings in his start against NM State before tossing 4.1 against Seattle U.  In one stretch this season, he allowed just two earned runs in 22.2 innings pitched against Ball State, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Fairleigh Dickinson.  Against the Broncos, he threw a complete game with 11 strikeouts and allowed just one earned run.  For the year, he is tied for seventh in the WAC in strikeouts with 43. 

Sunday: Edgar Barclay (4-1, 2.23 ERA) vs. TBA
In two of Barclay's last three starts, he has thrown a complete game, one-hitter with 10 strikeouts.  Barclay shutdown Hawaii on March 17 and dominated Seattle U last Sunday.  The junior from Hilo, Hawaii leads the `Runners with a 2.23 ERA and ranks second behind Vines with 55 strikeouts on the year.  He has an impressive 5.5:1 strikeout to walk ratio and is currently 26th in the country with a 0.83 WHIP. 

Ortega Named to Buster Posey Award Watch List
CSUB senior catcher Jake Ortega was one of 79 backstops across the country to be named to the Buster Posey Award Watch List.  Previously known as the Johnny Bench Award, the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award honors the nation's top division one collegiate catcher as voted on by head coaches and sports information directors. 

Ortega is in the midst of his best season as a Roadrunner.  Currently, he is leading the team in batting average (.389), OPS (.927), slugging percentage (.453), on-base percentage (.474) and hits (37), while ranking sixth in the Western Athletic Conference in batting average and seventh on-base percentage. 

The senior has also been effective defensively, throwing out 10 potential stealers and posting a .988 fielding percentage.  For his career, he is fourth all-time chart in putouts with 717. 

The watch list will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, whom will be announced on May 17. 

Series Schedule
First pitch of the opening game of the series is slated for 7:00 p.m. tomorrow night.  Saturday's game will start at 3:00 p.m. with Sunday's finale beginning at 12:00 p.m.  All three games will be broadcasted live on the WAC Digital Network.  
 
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Daniel Carrizosa

#5 Daniel Carrizosa

RHP/IF
6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
Ryan Koch

#23 Ryan Koch

C/1B
6' 1"
Senior
R/R
Jake Ortega

#33 Jake Ortega

C
5' 10"
Senior
L/R
Sergio Robles

#6 Sergio Robles

1B/OF
6' 0"
Senior
R/R
Ethan Skuija

#37 Ethan Skuija

RHP
6' 3"
Junior
R/R
Edgar Barclay

#26 Edgar Barclay

LHP
5' 10"
Junior
L/L
Darius Vines

#24 Darius Vines

RHP
6' 1"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Daniel Carrizosa

#5 Daniel Carrizosa

6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
RHP/IF
Ryan Koch

#23 Ryan Koch

6' 1"
Senior
R/R
C/1B
Jake Ortega

#33 Jake Ortega

5' 10"
Senior
L/R
C
Sergio Robles

#6 Sergio Robles

6' 0"
Senior
R/R
1B/OF
Ethan Skuija

#37 Ethan Skuija

6' 3"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Edgar Barclay

#26 Edgar Barclay

5' 10"
Junior
L/L
LHP
Darius Vines

#24 Darius Vines

6' 1"
Junior
R/R
RHP
California State University at Bakersfield Athletics loading logo