• Kaia Johnson continues her pursuit for the CSUB single-season stolen bases record.
  • The speedy outfielder is just three steals away from resetting the mark with 17.
• Pitcher Kirsten Martinez was strong against Cal State Fullerton, appearing in all three games and throwing over 10 innings of work.
• Dani Hunter and Karissa Munsey both extended their six-game hitting streaks to seven games in the series finale versus the Titans.
• CSUB is seeking to get back in the win column as they take on Santa Clara and also seeking their first Big West win of the 2024 season as they head to UC Davis this weekend.

CSUB 1, CSUF 7 – Saturday, March 23

• The Roadrunners and Titans kept pace with one another through the first four innings
  • Kirsten Martinez was pulled in the fifth inning, but held the Titans scoreless through four, allowing just four hits
  • CSUB’s defenders flashed the leather as Kaia Johnson made a sliding grab in center field and Martinez caught a line drive (see the video above) that came back up the middle and was able to double up the runner at first and get out of the inning
• In the bottom half of the fifth Fullerton's offense came alive, striking for all seven of their runs runs on nine hits
• CSUB was able to get on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning on a single to right field by Dani Hunter plating Logan-Ray Gaspar, who reached on a single through the right side

CSUB 2, CSUF 6 – Saturday, March 23

• Fullerton jumped out with a one run lead on an RBI infield single in the second inning
•  The `Runners came right back scoring two in the bottom of the third for their first lead of the series
  • Shaylene Fuimaono worked a walk and scored on a Kaia Johnson double to left center
  • Johnson later scored on a Logan-Ray Gaspar single
• In the fifth inning, the Titans hit a grand slam to take the lead 6-2
• Bakersfield had two hits in the sixth and in the seventh innings but could not capitalize on making a comeback

CSUB 0, CSFU 6 – Sunday, March 24

• In the finale of the three-game set, Bakersfield and Fullerton battled through two scoreless innings
• Fullerton got on the board in the third inning, racking up two runs on three hits
  • Hailey Brooks stopped the bleeding by throwing out a runner at home from left field to end the inning
• In the top of the fourth the Titans cashed in for three more runs after stringing multiple singles together
• Karissa Munsey got the `Runners in the hit column in the bottom of the fourth through the 5-6 hole
  • CSUB would wind up leaving two on base in the fourth inning
• Brooks led the fifth inning off with a single through the left side, but the `Runners were once again unable to convert on the opportunity

• Schedule & Links
• Tickets Link

• The Cal State Bakersfield baseball team headed down to Irvine for the weekend to face off against the 19th-ranked team in the country. 
• Bakersfield continued conference play against the UC Irvine Anteaters. 
• Each meeting was a battle between the two teams, but CSUB fell to their tough foe in all three games, including a 12-inning marathon in the series finale.
• Kyler Stancato led the `Runner offense on the weekend, hitting .385 and driving in a pair of RBI.
• Kellen O'Connor was outstanding on the mound again, pitching into the seventh inning while allowing just one unearned run in Sunday's finale.

 CSUB 3, UC Irvine 10 – Friday, Mar. 22

• UC Irvine got out to an early lead to start out the weekend series during the Friday night game. The Anteaters held the Roadrunners scoreless while UCI put up five runs in the first four innings.
• Bakersfield finally answered back in the top of the fifth off junior Matthew Kurata’s fly out to right field, bringing Elijah Pelayo home.
• The Anteaters continued their roll and got the best of Bakersfield’s pitching staff, taking advantage in the fifth and seventh inning as Irvine put up another five runs.
• Bakersfield put two more runs on the board to close out Game 1, but it was not enough to catch UC Irvine.

CSUB 4, UC Irvine 12 – Saturday, Mar. 23 

• During the second game of the series, Irvine got out to another early lead. Bakersfield’s defense was no match to stop the seven runs in the first five innings.
• Bakersfield committed a total of three errors during the game as UCI took advantage to grow its lead larger.
• Trying to make a comeback, CSUB's offense put up two runs on the board in the top of the sixth inning, but Irvine continued to roll, scoring another five runs in the bottom of the eighth.
• In the top of the ninth Bakersfield capped its scoring with two more runs. One run came off of a fielder’s choice by freshman Jonah Shields and the other from an RBI walk from Brock Perreira.

CSUB 2, UC Irvine 3 – Sunday, Mar. 24 

• In the series finale, Kellen O’Connor was on top of his game for Bakersfield, holding UC Irvine scoreless until the sixth inning.
  • CSUB's pitcher gave up only one run, scattering seven hits while facing 23 Anteaters.
  • O'Connor struck out five players before relief pitcher Gary Grosjean stepped in and took the mound.
• Bakersfield’s pitching staff held off Irvine for as long as they could to give the offense a chance in scoring.
• A run in the top of the seventh helped the `Runners tie the score, 1-1
• Irvine regained the lead, but Bakersfield tied it up again, 2-2, in the top of the ninth.
• The game would continue for three extra innings before Irvine scored a single run in the bottom of the 12th, walking off in victory.
• UC Irvine concluded the sweep of the series as Bakersfield heads back home for a single game against Pepperdine on Tuesday in Hardt Field.

• Schedule & Links
• Tickets Link

• The Cal State Bakersfield beach volleyball team continued the season on the road at the Big West Challenge, finishing the league preview weekend with a 1-5 record.
• Ella Erteltova & Vivi Kaelin unfortunately had their win streak snapped after 17-straight victories, but the pair ended the weekend at 19-3 so far in the 2024 Beach Volleyball season. 
  • After this weekend, the duo broke the CSUB record for the most individual wins in a season, passing Emma Bubelis & Alanna Shields' 18 wins, set just a year ago.
• Kaia Fanshier & Ella Ensign had a great weekend at the Big West Challenge going 5-1 this weekend. The freshman duo competed as CSUB's #5 pair and defeated all of their competition except for #7 Long Beach 
  • The pair of `Runners took Long Beach's #5 pair to a tight loss in the 3rd set ,15-13.
• The Roadrunners will continue to be on the road for the remainder of the season until Senior Day on Apr. 12. The full schedule can be found at GoRunners.com/bvbschedule

 CSUB 3, Sacramento State - Friday, Mar. 22

#3 Vivi Kaelin/Ella Erteltova (CSUB) def. Karlee Soderberg/Mia Guevara (SAC) 21-16, 21-18 

#4 Ava Palm/Pearl Moore (CSUB) def. Ashlynn Archer/Hailey Plugge (SAC) 21-17, 18-21, 15-13 

#5 Ella Ensign/Kaia Fanshier (CSUB) def. Tiya Kamba-Griffin/Abbey Kadillak (SAC) 17-21, 21-18, 15-7

CSUB 0, #7 Long Beach State 5 - Friday, Mar. 22

CSUB 2, CSUN 3 - Friday, Mar. 22

#3 Vivi Kaelin/Ella Erteltova (CSUB) def. Miles, Maleya/Cederlind, Layla (CSUN) 21-11, 21-13 

#5 Ella Ensign/Kaia Fanshier (CSUB) def. Buckley, Taylor/Coggins, Haley (CSUN) 21-15, 21-18

CSUB 1, #9 Cal Poly 4 - Saturday, Mar. 23

#5 Ella Ensign/Kaia Fanshier (CSUB) def. Emma Zuffelato/Julia Soeller (CP) 21-17, 21-18

CSUB 2, UC Davis 3 - Saturday, Mar. 23

#2 Vivi Kaelin/Ella Erteltova (CSUB) def. Mia Olen/Sam Lazenby (UCD) 21-16, 21-17

#5 Ella Ensign/Kaia Fanshier (CSUB) def. Anna Braun/Kate O'steen (UCD) 21-19, 21-14

CSUB 1, #12 Hawai'i 4 - Saturday, Mar. 23

#5 Kaia Fanshier/Ella Ensign (CSUB) def. Sydney Miller/Anna Maidment (UH) 21-19, 13-21, 15-12

• The Cal State Bakersfield Track and Field program returned home from Cal Poly with two school records, four CSUB all-time Top 20 marks, and ten Top 3 finishes at the Mark Conover Classic.
• Click here for the full results from the meet in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

CSUB at Mark Conover Classic 

• On Friday in the men’s hammer throw, Javier Toro and Matthew Garrett took 4th and 5th place, respectively. Toro led the `Runners with an all-time depth chart performance and personal best mark of 199’7”. He now has the 8th best hammer throw in CSUB history.
• For the `Runner women, Jessi Solis placed third overall with a throw of 168’1”, leading all collegiate student-athletes in the event.
• Julie Johnson (25.08) and Nerissa Thompson (25.18) both earned personal bests in the women’s 200-meter race.
  • Thompson also performed a personal record in the 100m over the weekend and placed second with a time of 12.09.
  • Johnson now has the #20 spot on the all-time list in the 200m.
• Friday was highlighted by Helena Valentic, who ran a school record in the women’s 2,000m steeplechase. Her time of 7:08.59 was good for third overall in the event. Valentic holds multiple school records on the track and in cross country.
• On Saturday, Jacob Yagers broke the school record in the open men’s 3,000m with a time of 8:35.47. Yagers placed third overall.
• Jahnyl Donaldson-Howden is now #12 on the CSUB all-time list in the 100m with her new personal best of 12.20.
• CSUB performed well in the men’s 100m. The `Runners were led by Meshach Davis who crossed the line in 11.00 and fourth overall. Matthew Karapetyan (11.08), Kenny Rugnao (11.19), and Jacob Mounmanivong (11.19) were also in the mix.
• Miranda Miller had a season best in the women’s pole vault, jumping 12’11.50” , which was good for second place.
• In the women’s 100m hurdles, Julia Stein finished third with a time of 15.00.
• Valerie Garcia and Alea Goana both earned PRs in the women’s 3,000m.
• Javier Toro (55’08.50’) and Matthew Garrett (54’05”) placed second and third overall in the men’s shot put. Toro has the #16 mark in school history in the event.
• Bakersfield will be back in action, Mar. 29-30, at the Vince O’Boyle Track & Field Classic hosted by UC Irvine.

• Schedule & Links