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Arthur Smith

Baseball Written by James Tsitakis-Cecil

CSUB Looks to Continue Recent Success with Home Series

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Following the Cal State Bakersfield baseball team's first Big West series win of 2023, the Roadrunners are set to host the Cal Poly Mustangs for a three-game home series. The upstart `Runners have turned their fortunes around recently, winning four of their last seven contests, including a pair of defensively dominant 3-2 wins at Hawai'i last weekend.

This Weekend's Schedule
  • vs Cal Poly
    • Friday, Apr. 14, 6:05 p.m.
    • Saturday, Apr. 15, 6:05 p.m.
    • Sunday, Apr. 16, 1:05 p.m.
`Runner Notes
  • CSUB's pitchers were in exceptional form during the road series in Hawai'i, allowing merely seven combined runs over the three-game stretch.
    • Ryan Verdugo picked up his third win of the season in a six-inning, four hits-allowed, six strikeout performance during the first day. Marcelo Saldana relieved Verdugo and nabbed the save after three runless innings of work.
    • Matt Comnos put together another 100+ pitch outing through 7.1 innings with two runs allowed before Gabe Ulloa grabbed the win in 1.2 innings thanks to late heroics from the CSUB offense.
    • Despite being awarded the loss in a close 3-2 defeat on the third day at Hawai'i, Tally Wright Jr. struck out five batters in 5.1 innings of relief, allowing just two runs and giving CSUB every chance to come back in the game.
  • Last year's All-Conference Second Team outfielder James Bell proved to be the spark plug yet again for an upstart `Runners offense against the Rainbow Warriors. Bell went 5-for-14 with 4 RBI to lead the charge for CSUB, including a go-ahead 2-run RBI to win the second game.
  • The top of the lineup continued supporting Bell with Riley Kasper and Matthew Kurata pulling their weight as well. Kasper went 6-for-12 and scored in both of the games that gave CSUB the go-ahead runs to secure victory. Kurata provided four hits to assist the offensive effort.
Scouting the Mustangs
  • Cal Poly (10-19, 6-6 BW) is led by 21st-year head coach Larry Lee.
  • The Mustangs have experienced a tough year thus far. The majority of their conference schedule has consisted of playing some of the Big West's best teams.
  • Even so, Cal Poly was defeated handedly by Pepperdine last week; a program that CSUB recently dismantled in a 19-11 offensive battle.
  • After completing a series sweep against UC Riverside, the Mustangs hosted Santa Clara for a midweek matchup before traveling to Bakersfield. The Broncos were able to secure a 7-4 victory over Cal Poly, heavily outhitting the Mustangs in the process.
  • Cal Poly's primary strength is hitting, with four players batting .290 or better, including junior first baseman Joe Yorke who leads the team with a .314 batting average and 33 RBIs, along with 32 hits.
  • The Mustang pitching staff will be an area for CSUB to attack, as Cal Poly currently has a 5.91 team ERA, with just two pitchers boasting individual ERAs under 4.00, both of them being relievers.
How to Follow the `Runners
Season ticket plans and individual game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased on GoRunners.com/Tickets or by calling 661.654.BLUE or 661.654.GOLD.
 
~GoRunners.com~
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Players Mentioned

James Bell

#19 James Bell

C/OF
6' 1"
Senior
R/R
Matt Comnos

#29 Matt Comnos

LHP
6' 1"
Senior
L/L
Matthew Kurata

#8 Matthew Kurata

IF
5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
Marcelo Saldana

#37 Marcelo Saldana

LHP
6' 0"
Junior
L/L
Gabe Ulloa

#16 Gabe Ulloa

RHP
5' 11"
Junior
R/R
Ryan Verdugo

#46 Ryan Verdugo

RHP
6' 2"
Sophomore
R/R
Riley Kasper

#5 Riley Kasper

IF
6' 1"
Graduate Student
R/R
Tally Wright Jr.

#23 Tally Wright Jr.

RHP
6' 1"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

James Bell

#19 James Bell

6' 1"
Senior
R/R
C/OF
Matt Comnos

#29 Matt Comnos

6' 1"
Senior
L/L
LHP
Matthew Kurata

#8 Matthew Kurata

5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Marcelo Saldana

#37 Marcelo Saldana

6' 0"
Junior
L/L
LHP
Gabe Ulloa

#16 Gabe Ulloa

5' 11"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Ryan Verdugo

#46 Ryan Verdugo

6' 2"
Sophomore
R/R
RHP
Riley Kasper

#5 Riley Kasper

6' 1"
Graduate Student
R/R
IF
Tally Wright Jr.

#23 Tally Wright Jr.

6' 1"
Junior
R/R
RHP
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