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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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James Bell
Mark Duffel
8
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 16-23, 9-8 Big West
7
CSUN CSUN 21-18, 10-10 Big West
Winner
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
16-23, 9-8 Big West
8
Final
7
CSUN CSUN
21-18, 10-10 Big West
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 1 0 0 2 0 3 0 2 0 8 13 1
CSUN CSUN 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 1 2 7 11 3

W: Verdugo, Ryan (2-1) L: Sodersten, Blake (4-5) S: Johnson, Kenny (2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Bell & Miller Pace Offense in Series Evening Win at CSUN

Northridge, Calif. – James Bell was 4-for-5 and figured in seven of eight runs scored as CSU Bakersfield bounced back for an 8-7 victory, Saturday afternoon, evening their three-game series with CSUN at one game apiece.
 
"Tonight was a great response by our guys after a tough, walk-off loss in the opener," said CSUB Head Coach Jeremy Beard. "The team competed well all day. We had to overcome some adversity, but we consistently had great approaches at the plate and had some nice outings from a few relievers pressed into action early."
 
Ryan Verdugo earned the second win of his Roadrunner career with 3.1 innings of one run ball. He scattered four hits, walk one and struck out one, working out of a key eighth inning jam when he got CSUN's Bart West to pop up with two on and two outs.
 
Kenny Johnson retired the only batter he faced, celebrating his 24th birthday with his second save of the season.
 
Bell's performance included a double, three runs scored and four runs driven in. The Bakersfield leftfielder had three separate run-scoring hits on the day.
 
AJ Miller (2-for-3), Aaron Perez (3-for-4) and Cody Hendriks (2-for-5) also had multi-hit games, with Miller homering for the second-straight game and driving in three.
 
CSUN centerfield Jakob Simons led the Matadors with two hits and three RBI. West added a two-run home run for the home team.


How It Happened... 
T1 | James Bell's line drive snuck past diving CSUN leftfielder Bart West for a one out triple. Bell would score one batter later, when AJ Miller lifted a sacrifice fly softly to left-center field.
 
B2 | Kellen O'Connor retired the first two Matadors of the inning before an error, two walks and an infield single allowed CSUN to tie the score at one run apiece. A walk to nine-hitter Jakob Simons scored Joey Kramer, who had reached on the throwing error by CSUB third baseman Cody Hendriks.
 
T4 | Bell drove in a pair in the fourth when he bounced a base hit through the right side with two outs and the bases loaded. Aaron Casillas, who had reached on a fielder's choice, and Cody Hendriks, who singled, came around to score on the play.
 
B4 | Gabe Ulloa surrendered a lead-off walk to Matador catcher Sebastian Garcia. Garcia would advance to third on a passed ball and score on a double from Simons.
 
B5 | CSUN grabbed a 4-3 lead when left-fielder Bart West connected for a two-run home run well over the fence in left-center field.
 
T6 | Bakersfield answered with three in the sixth. Hendriks led off the inning with a double off the wall in left-center field and scored two batters later when Bell singled up the middle. Miller followed with an opposite field home run to give the 'Runners a 6-4 lead.
 
T8 | Bell and Angel Saldivar each picked up RBI singles in the eighth inning to stretch CSUB's lead to 8-4.
 
B9 | The Matadors scored Brandon Bohning and Simons belted back-to-back, run-scoring doubles in the ninth, but CSUN could get no closer. Bakersfield reliever Kenny Johnson recorded the only man he faced on a ground ball to short to end the game.


Notable...
• Miller's home run was his second of the series, moving him into the team lead with eight homers this season. He now sits in a tie for third on CSUB's single-season home run list, alongside former 'Runner sluggers Jason Kudlock and Martin Medina. Medina also holds the top two single-season totals, hitting nine in 2011 and twelve in 2010.
 
• James Bell improved to 5-for-9 in the series with five runs driven in over the first two games versus the Matadors. Bell figured in seven of CSUB's eight runs in Saturday's contests, scoring three times and driving in four.
 
• Bakersfield starter Kellen O'Connor walked a career-high four Matadors on Saturday afternoon. He had not walked more than three opponents in a single appearance prior to today's outing in Northridge.


On Deck...
The Roadrunners and Matadors will wrap up their three-game Big West Conference series Sunday afternoon at Matador Field with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. CSUN will send right hander Lucas Braun and his 3.86 ERA to the mound, while CSUB's starter is still undecided. Tomorrow's game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

 
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