• The Cal State Bakersfield men's basketball team suffered a pair of tight losses this week.
• Despite the pair of losses, the Roadrunner men still remain half a game ahead of Cal State Fullerton for the last spot in March's Big West Championship.

CSUB 71, CSUN 76 – Thursday, Feb. 15

• Bakersfield was unable to complete the comeback versus CSUN.
• CSUB went into halftime down 13 points but eventually cut its deficit to just one point in a tightly contested second half. 
• Dionte Bostick led CSUN in points scored (27) shooting 8-15 from the field.
• The Matadors held Kaleb Higgins in check, who only scored 12 points, but other `Runners were able to step up on the offensive end.
• Corey Stephenson and Cameron Wilbon both had 17 points on the night while Stephenson went 13-for-16 from the free throw line. Dalph Panopio added 15 points in the loss.

CSUB 71, UC Irvine 77 – Saturday, Feb. 17

• CSUB found themselves in foul trouble early against the Big West's top team with seven fouls before the fifteen-minute mark.
  • Bakersfield was down early 14-3 and slowly worked their way back to close out the first half down 39-33.
• Kareem Watson provided a boost to the offense in the first half, helping the `Runners with six points in the period.
• CSUB continue to cut down the deficit and found themselves tied 49-49 with thirteen minutes remaining in the game. 
• Irvine controlled the game from that point on though, going on an 8-0 run for the next four minutes to seal the win.
• Four `Runners scored in double digits for the second consecutive night:
  • Kaleb Higgins: 15 PTS (6-12 FG, 2-2 FT)
  • Fidelis Okereke: 10 PTS (2-5 FG, 6-8 FT)
  • Jaden Alexander: 10 PTS (4-6 FG, 2-2 FT)
  • Modestas Kancleris: 10 PTS (3-4 FG, 4-5 FT) 

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• Cal State Bakersfield's women’s basketball team went 1-1 this weekend against CSUN and UC Irvine in a pair.
• Julia Riley stood out among the `Runners, breaking a CSUB Division I record for three-point field goal percentage in a single game. 
• The Roadrunners remain in contention for another playoff appearance, holding a half-game lead over Cal State Fullerton.

  CSUB 61,  CSUN 50 – Thursday, Feb. 15

• Cal State Bakersfield went on the road and earned a Big West victory over CSUN.
• The Matadors lead the game during the majority of the competition, outscoring Bakersfield 27-24 in the first half. 
• CSUB began to make their come back in the third quarter, tying the game at 39 points at the end of the period.
• The second half of the game was catalyzed by sophomore forward Julia Riley, who completely changing the momentum of the game in the fourth quarter. 
  • Scoring three of her seven three-pointers in a row, Riley and the `Runners scored 22 points in the final quarter to sprint away from CSUN.
  • Riley's 7-for-7 performance from three-point range is a new school record, surpassing Madison McKenny's 6-for-6 game from 2011-12.
• As a team, Bakersfield scored six three-pointers in the fourth quarter alone to grab hold of the game and take the 11-point victory. The `Runner’s defense shut down the Matador offense, keeping them to only 11 points in the quarter.

CSUB 68, UC Irvine 72 – Saturday, Feb. 17

• Bakersfield's game on Saturday afternoon in the Icardo Center was full of excitement. The `Runners faced off against one of the top teams in the Big West and put up a valiant fight.
  • The `Runners came into the game down a total of eight women available in their rotation and finished the game with just seven.
• In the first quarter, Irvine grabbed the lead, outscoring Bakersfield 18-10 in the period.
• Head Coach Greg McCall did not let the number of players bring the `Runners down, coaching his team to pull within four points by the half.
• The third quarter was CSUB’s best, scoring 22 points and taking over the lead for the first time in the game, 50-48.
• As the game came to a close, Bakersfield could not hold onto the lead in the fourth, as UC Irvine went on a 14-3 run to start the quarter.
• Shaunae Brown, had another standout game, scoring 22 points and shooting 75 percent from the three.

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• The Cal State Bakersfield softball team continued the 2024 season this past weekend at the CBU Classic.
• The Roadrunners are led by first-year Head Coach Letty Olivarez, who earned her first win at the helm this week.
• Shortstop Logan-Ray Gaspar led the way offensively, hitting .450 with three doubles and four RBI over the tournament.

  CSUB 3, Utah State 2 – Friday, Feb. 16

• Bakersfield earned their first win of the season and Coach Olivarez’s first win as the CSUB head coach.
• Utah State struck first in the first inning on a ground out to second base.
• CSUB answered right back in the bottom of the second inning thanks to a two-run home run to left field by Shaylene Fuimaono.
• The `Runners extended their lead in the third inning as Gaspar advanced to third on a passed ball and then scored on a throwing error by the Aggies' catcher.
• Freshman Dani Hunter went 4.1 innings only allowing one run and giving up three hits, allowing for Kirsten Martinez to come in and record the save.

  CSUB 4, California Baptist 9 – Friday, Feb. 16

• Kaia Johnson opened the game with an RBI triple scoring Gaspar in the first inning.
• CBU quickly put three on the board in the bottom half of the first thanks to an RBI double and a two-run homerun.
• Gaspar doubled to left field, driving in Maya Williams and Natalya Rodriguez and tying the game at three in the second inning.
• A big four run sixth inning by the Lancers allowed for them to pull away from CSUB.

  CSUB 6, Weber State 7 – Saturday, Feb. 17

• In Game 3 of the CBU Classic, the `Runnerswent down 2-0 early.
• CSUB climbed their way back, 3-2, in the third inning after a Hailey Brooks single to right field that scored two: Williams and Aariana Harrison.
• Weber State tacked on runs in the next three innings.
• Bakersfield tied the game at six in the sixth inning after a Violet Salazar single down the left field line scoredMaya Molina-Villarreal.
• The Wildcats scored in the bottom of the sixth putting an end to the CSUB comeback bid.

CSUB 0, Utah State 9 – Saturday, Feb. 17

• Utah State avenged their loss to CSUB with a 9-0 victory.
• Bakersfield nabbed three hits in the second game of the day.
  • Gaspar went 2-2 with a double.

CSUB 2, California Baptist 5 – Sunday, Feb. 18

• Gaspar continued to find success in the CBU Classic, starting the game with an RBI fly out to center field, scoring Williams and putting the `Runners up 1-0 early.
  • Johnson added on another run with an RBI single up the middle.
• Bakersfield was unable to generate any offense after the first inning.
• CBU’s fourth inning broke the tie with a two RBI double through the left side. 

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• The Cal State Bakersfield baseball team opened the 2024 season last weekend at the College Baseball Classic in Surprise, Ariz.
• While the Roadrunners went 0-3 over the weekend, Bakersfield battled hard and enjoyed success from a number of student-athletes.
• Over CSUB's first three contests, the `Runners looked to their middle infielders to lead the offense:
  • SS Elijah Pelayo: .625 BA, .750 SLG%, 4 RBI
  • 2B Nick Salas: .600 BA, 2 runs
• Pitcher Kellen O'Connor also impressed in his start against #7 Oregon State while the CSUB pitching staff reset a school record in Bakersfield's game against Minnesota (more below).

  CSUB 7, Minnesota 8 (12 inn.) – Friday, Feb. 16

• Minnesota jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, but Bakersfield tied the game in the bottom of the half of the fifth.
  • Pelayo's two-RBI double knotted the score at three runs apiece.
• The Golden Gophers led 5-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth before Kobe Silva's timely triple scored a pair of `Runners and sent the game to extras.
• CSUB answered Minnesota's 10th-inning runs with a pair of runs of its own, tying the score at 7-7.
• The Golden Gophers finally sealed the deal in the 12th inning as CSUB could not mount another comeback.
• The Bakersfield pitching staff, led by starter Ryan Verdugo, posted a CSUB single-game record 19 strikeouts. Here's the breakdown:
  • Ryan Verdugo - 7K
  • Tobias Plotkin - 3K
  • Ryan Figueroa - 3K
  • Jeter Scheurman - 3K
  • Tally Wright, Jr. - 3K

  CSUB 3, New Mexico 4 – Saturday, Feb. 17

• Bakersfield found itself trailing early again as New Mexico scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning.
• CSUB made the deficit one run in the seventh, but neither team scored throughout the rest of the game as the Lobos held on for the narrow victory.
• Gary Grosjean pitched six solid innings while fanning eight Lobos.
• Salas went 2-for-2 and scored twice while Pelayo was 2-for-3, driving in another pair of `Runners.

  CSUB 2, #7 Oregon State 15 – Sunday, Feb. 17

• The final score is misleading to how well CSUB actually competed. Bakersfield went toe-to-toe with the seventh-ranked team in the country, playing to a 2-2 tie through six innings.
• Bakersfield's ability to hang with the Beavers was thanks in part to the notable pitching of O'Connor, who held OSU to just four hits and two runs over six innings of work. O'Connor also struck out five Beavers along the way.
• With CSUB's starter out of the game, Oregon State got to a tired Bakersfield bullpen putting seven runs up on the board in the seventh inning followed by six more in the eighth.
• CSUB catcher Matt Kurata was 3-for-4 against OSU while Pelayo added two more runs in the loss.

  CSUB vs. New Mexico – Monday, Feb. 18

• Bakersfield was actively closing out the College Baseball Classic with one last game against New Mexico while the CSUB Weekly Recap was posted. A summary of Monday's game will be added to this story on Tuesday.

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•  The Cal State Bakersfield wrestling team flew to Little Rock, Ark. for a tri-dual against SIU Edwardsville and #18 Little Rock.
• Richard Castro-Sandoval went 2-0 on the day, leading the `Runners.
• CSUB has now faced four nationally-ranked foes this season, all four of which are fellow members of the Pac-12 Conference.

CSUB 9, SIUE 31 – Sunday, Feb. 11

• For the second-straight dual, Bakersfield got bookend wins with Richard Castro-Sandoval (125) and Jake Andrews (HWT) taking home victories.
• Castro-Sandoval held off Davian Guanajuato for an 11-8 decision.
• Andrews earned a convicing, 7-2 decision against Bryson Buhk, posting his second-straight win.
• Santino Sanchez (133) picked up the third victory for CSUB, a 6-5 decision against Dominic Lopez.
• Guillermo Escobedo (165) and Braden Smelser (184) narrowly lost one-point decisions to their Cougar counterparts.

CSUB 9, #18 Little Rock 37 – Sunday, Feb. 11

• Castro-Sandoval made it three-straight wins thanks to 7-5 victory against Jeremiah Reno.
  • The redshirt sophomore is now 9-11 on the season, including a 3-2 record in Pac-12 duals.
• Bakersfield forfeited the 141 bout, and dropped three narrow losses on the way to the loss against the Trojans.
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• Cal State Bakersfield’s golf team competed in its first tournament of the Spring season.
• The Roadrunners tackled the BGSU Women’s Intercollegiate, Feb. 13-14, in Litchfield Park, Ariz.
• CSUB placed eighth of 14 teams at Wigwam Golf Club on a course that featured tough pins and bunkers with high lips.

`Runners Take on BGSU Women’s Intercollegiate

• Bakersfield got the lay of the land in Round 1.
  • Sarah Mutai paced the `Runners with an opening-round score of 74 (+3).
• The second round of the day went about the same as CSUB came back to the clubhouse using one more stroke than the round before.
  • Mutai and Iris Han both tallied 77s to lead Bakersfield in Round 2.
• CSUB finished with its best round of the tournament, a score of 312, improving by three strokes over Round 1.
  • Han paced the `Runners again with a 76.
  • Four `Runners posted scores in the 70s, including Maci Mills’ 79, which was an 11-stroke improvement over her previous round.

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• The Cal State Bakersfield track and field teams opened the outdoor season with two wins at the Sunbird Invitational, hosted by Fresno Pacific. The Saturday meet was gloomy and wet, however, the `Runners showed up with an impressive outing.
• Click here for the full results. 

CSUB at Sunbird Invitational 

• Two of the `Runners wins came on the women’s side with Jessi Solis and Julia Stein each taking home first place in their events. 
• Stein crossed the finish line in first place in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:05.26. Jaztyn Greer was close behind with a time of 1:08.43 to finish third overall in the event. Both athletes finished the 100m hurdles neck in neck, with a second-place finish for Stein (15.50) and third place finish for Greer (15.63). 
• Jessi Solis continued her strong outing in the field events with a first-place finish in the hammer throw with a mark of 157’07”. 
• All women in the 3,000 meters went home with a personal best. Alea Goana led the pack with a PB time of 11:47.93. 
• On the men’s side, Javier Toro captured second place finished in his events. Toro marked in a throw of 170’03” in the hammer throw and a 50’03.35” in the shot put. 
• On the track for the men, Jacob Yagers paced well in the distance events. Yagers clocked in a 3:57.63 in the 1,500m, good for fourth overall. The junior was just four seconds off his personal best in the 3,000m with a time of 8:44.08. 
• Bakersfield will be back in action with more members of the squad on Mar. 01 for the Beach Opener hosted by Long Beach State.