BAKERSFIELD – California Baptist scored single runs in the fifth, seventh and ninth innings, coming from behind to slip past host CSU Bakersfield, 4-3, Tuesday night at Hardt Field. The Roadrunners wrapped up their 12-game season-opening home stand with a 4-8 record, while the Lancers improved to 8-3. 

"We'd be more satisfied right now with a few more wins, but the growth we saw from our team over this home stand was huge," said CSUB Head Coach Jeremy Beard. "We learned a lot about our team and were able to play a lot of different guys. I'm excited to get on the road and see how our team responds in a different environment." 

Bakersfield continues to receive strong pitching this season. Senior Davonte Butler got the start and delivered five innings of three-hit ball, allowing just two runs, one earned, and striking out five. Nick Perryman, Taylor Ott and Cody Tucker combined to allow just four hits and fan five in 4.0 innings of relief. Tucker was saddled with his third loss of the season when miscommunication on a fly ball led to a Lancer lead-off triple in the top of the ninth inning. 

Designated hitter Andrew Allanson continued his offensive resurgence with a 3-for-4 effort, including an RBI single in the third. James Bell and Cory Blackburn also drove in runs for CSUB. 
 

T3  |  Jake Skipworth chopped a two-out single over the mound and into centerfield to score Mitchel Simon and open the scoring. Simon led off the inning reaching on an error by CSUB first baseman AJ Miller and advanced into scoring position following a base on balls to shortstop Marty Munoz. 

B3  |  The Roadrunners answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning. Left-fielder James Bell put CSUB on the board with an RBI double down the line in right field, evening the score and chasing CBU starter Johnathon Villalobos. Andrew Allanson greeted reliever L. Rocha with a sharp single up the middle to make it 2-1. 

B4  |  Jashia Morrissey led off the Bakersfield fourth with a ringing double into right field and scored two batters later when Cory Blackburn reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop. 

T5  |  The Lancers got one run back when Chad Castillo beat the shift with an opposite field double into the left-center field gap, chasing Munoz home from second base. Munoz reached on a fielder's choice when `Runner second baseman made a diving stab in the hole and fired to second base to cut down the lead runner. 

T7  |  Skipworth picked up his second RBI of the night when he bounced a double down the left-field line past CSUB third baseman Evan Rice, scoring lead-off hitter Harrison Spohn to tie the game at three. 

T9  |  Spohn plated the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly to deep right-center field. Simon scored on the play after tripling to lead off the inning on a ball that fell between outfielders Jashia Morrissey and James Bell. 
 

* Andrew Allanson is 6-for-11 in the last three games, raising his batting average more than 100 points to .275. Allanson has walked twice, homered, scored two runs and driven in three during his recent hot streak. 

* Catcher Bailey Seeger was held hitless for just the third time in nine appearances this season. Seeger leads qualified Roadrunner hitters with a .379 batting average this season and boasts a team-best six RBI. 

* Davonte Butler lowered his ERA to 3.68 after allowing just a single earned run in 5.0 innings pitched. CSUB hurlers have pitched to a cumulative 4.09 ERA this season, more than a full run better than last year's season-long mark. 

* Bakersfield is hitting .277 with the bases empty this season, but just .220 with runners on base. 

* CSUB falls to 0-4 in the all-time series with California Baptist. 
 

Bakersfield will hit the road for the first time this season when the team travels north to Stockton, Calif., for a three-game weekend series at the University of the Pacific, beginning Friday, Mar. 11, at 6:05 p.m. The Roadrunners and Tigers split a four-game set at Hardt Field last season, with CSUB roaring back to win the final two games of the series.