Bakersfield, Calif. – Andrew Allanson homered again and Benji Caggianelli allowed just one hit over six innings of work, as CSU Bakersfield blew past visiting Utah Valley, 10-2, on Friday night, in game one of a four-game weekend series at Hardt Field. The Roadrunners scored four times in the first inning and never trailed, improving to 9-11 on the season. The Wolverines fell to 6-15.
"Benji didn't have his best stuff, but he competed and gave us another strong start," said CSUB Head Coach Jeremy Beard. "His effort allowed us to anticipate well on defense and relax offensively. We strung together quality at bats and forced them into the zone where we took advantage of pitches to hit."
It wasn't Caggianelli's sharpest outing, but it may have been his best. The Bakersfield native worked a career-high six innings, allowing just one hit and a pair of unearned runs, while matching a season-high with 10 strikeouts and earning the win in his second-consecutive outing. Relievers Matt Comnos and Ryan Reynolds allowed just one base runner and fanned three over the final three innings.
Allanson, Angel Saldivar, AJ Miller and Cody Hendriks all had multi-hit outings for CSUB. Saldivar had three hits and a pair of RBI, while Allanson drove in two and belted his third long home run in two games. Hendriks' base hits were the first of his Bakersfield career.
HOW IT HAPPENED...
B1 | Bakersfield scored four times in the first inning to chase Utah Valley starter Cameron Scudder. The rally started when Andrew Allanson, who hit two grand slams on Tuesday night against Pepperdine, came to the plate with the bases loaded and beat out an infield single to put CSUB on the board. Angel Saldivar followed with a two-run single to centerfield, before Cody Hendriks collected his first career hit and RBI with an infield single of his own.
B3 | Jashia Morrissey led off the third inning with a double and scored on a hustle play following an error on a ground ball to second base off the bat of Aaron Perez. Perez would eventually score on a sacrifice fly from Evan Rice.
T5 | Benji Caggianelli was perfect into the fifth inning, but two walks and a single to right field loaded the bases for Utah Valley with one away. Cagianelli responded with a strikeout of catcher Drew Sims and appeared to work his way out of trouble when Brandon Luna hit a towering pop up to third base, but Rice lost track of the ball allowing two unearned runs to score.
B7 | Utah Valley right fielder Mitch Moralez couldn't quite corral a sharp line drive off the bat of CSUB's Nick Salas, despite a diving effort. The ball slipped out of Moralez' glove at impact, scoring Perez and Saldivar to give CSUB an 8-2 lead.
B8 | AJ Miller walked and scored on Allanson's third home run of the week to set the final margin at 10-2.
NOTABLE...
• Andrew Allanson hit his fourth home run of the season in the eighth inning. In just two games this week, the big designated hitter is already 4-for-9, with three home runs, four runs scored and 11 RBI.
• Lead off hitter Evan Rice walked in his first place appearance to extend his on-base streak to 17 games. He's reached in every game he has appeared this season.
• Benji Caggianelli set a career high with six innings pitched and matched a personal best with 10 strikeouts. He earned his second straight victory and CSUB improved to 5-1 in games started by the Bakersfield native, this season.
• Caggianelli, Matt Comnos and Ryan Reynolds combined to allow just one Utah Valley hit and four total base runners. Its the fewest hits allowed by Bakersfield, since Edgar Barclay tossed a one-hit, complete game in a win over Seattle U., on March 31, 2019.
ON DECK...
The Roadrunners and Wolverines will square off in a double header on Saturday at Hardt Field, with game one scheduled for 2:05 p.m. The second game will be just seven innings and begins 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Jaykob Acosta and Kellen O'Connor will each get a start on the mound for the Roadrunners.
