• Bakersfield continues to fight for playoff contention and seeding at the Big West Championship with a 2-0 finish this past weekend.
• The Roadrunners can finish as high as sixth place in the league standings, which would earn the fifth seed in next week's tournament in Henderson, Nev.
  • CSUB controls its own fate, but a loss next week would force the `Runners to rely on results from other teams to make the Top 8

CSUB 70, UC San Diego 57 – Thursday, Feb. 29

• Bakersfield came up against first-place UC San Diego in a crucial matchup in the Icardo Center for the `Runners.
• CSUB honored five seniors before Thursday’s matchup with the Tritons:
  • Kaleb Higgins, Dalph Panopio, Naseem Gaskin, Cameron Wilbon, and Modestas Kancleris
• In the first half, CSUB edged out UCSD with a 29-27 lead
  • Higgins finished with 17 points in the period
  • CSUB held UCSD to a 37.5% shooting percentage in the first half while containing Bryce Pope (3rd in conference play with 19.3 PPG) to only 4 points (2-4 FG)
• In the second half, the `Runners continued to play aggressive defense, forcing the Tritons to a 28.57% shooting percentage
• Meanwhile, CSUB shot 60.87% (14-23 FG) from the field while pulling away from its guests
  • Bakersfield finished with a 45.3% field goal percentage; UC San Diego finished at 32.7%
• Three `Runners finished in double digits: Higgins had 29, Marvin McGhee III finished with 15, and Tom Mark recorded 12.

CSUB 68, Cal Poly 56 – Saturday, March 2

• CSUB traveled to San Luis Obispo, Calif. for a matchup with the Mustangs
• The first half was tightly contested and high scoring, with the host Mustangs leading 37-35 at the break
  • Cal Poly shot 52% and CSUB shot 42% in the first period
  • Higgins scored 9 points in the first half, while Kobe Sanders of Cal Poly was hot scoring 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting
• Bakersfield came out a different team in the second half and shut down the Cal Poly offense as the Mustangs only scored 19 in the second half while the `Runners scored 33.
  • CSUB's defense limited Cal Poly to shooting just 22.7% (5-22 FG)
  • The `Runners offense shot 54.2% from the field and knocked down 3-of-4 three-pointers
• CSUB extended their win streak over the Mustangs to 12-straight games and increased their lead in the all-time series to 16-2

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• Cal State Bakersfield's women’s basketball team went 0-2 for the weekend against UC San Diego and Cal Poly
• Bakersfield now sits at 9th in the Big West standing, needing to finish in the Top 8 to make it to next week's Big West Championship in Henderson, Nev.
• Averaging 12.5 points, Jordan Olivares lead the `Runners for the weekend, collecting three steals and three blocks.

CSUB 43, UC San Diego 50 – Thursday, Feb. 29

• Cal State Bakersfield women’s basketball was on the road for the final time this season taking a trip down to San Diego to play the Tritons for the second time this year.
• Bakersfield played them close in the first half, keeping the game tied between the `Runners and Tritons at 22-22
• The third quarter went downhill for the `Runners, who only scored six points in the period, while UC San Diego took the opportunity to take the lead. 
• Finishing up the game, the Tritons held off the `Runners for the seven-point victory.

CSUB 56, UC Davis 74 – Saturday, Mar. 2

• Bakersfield's game on Saturday afternoon ended in another loss for the `Runners. 
• CSUB got out to an early lead, outpacing Cal Poly 14-10 in the first quarter, but the `Runners were unable to hold on to that lead.
• In the second quarter, Bakersfield only scored four points with the Mustangs putting up 24 points on the board.
• After this momentum shift, Bakersfield fell behind and could not overcome the deficit.
• Freshman Amourie Porter went off for 16 points to lead the `Runners.

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• The Cal State Bakersfield softball team headed back out on the road for a light weekend, playing a pair of games at the University of San Diego's tournament.
• The Roadrunners are led by first-year Head Coach Letty Olivarez.
• Outfielder Kaia Johnson recently reset CSUB's all-time record for steals in a game with four against Montana.
• Freshman Hailey Brooks reached base safely in all three plate appearances this past week in San Diego
  • The outfielder went 2-for-2 with a double while also adding a walk

CSUB 0, UNLV 12 – Saturday, March 2

• CSUB came out of the gates slow, and were unable to generate any offense
  • Hailey Brooks had the lone knock for the `Runners
• UNLV scored early and often, building up a 12-0 advantage after three innings
• The `Runners had five total runners on base on the day as Brooks, Maya Williams, Shaylene Fuimaono, and Violet Salazar all drew walks
• Sophia Leiva Guerra came in to pitch in the final inning and did not give up a hit, facing four batters and recording all three outs on ground balls

CSUB 0, San Diego 9 – Saturday, March 2

• In Game 2, CSUB faced tournament host San Diego
• CSUB played well defensively, not having any errors, but the `Runners still struggled to get their offense going
• The `Runners had five runners reach base in the second game of the day:
  • Sam Morales and Yiselea Reynoso both drew walks
  • Logan-Ray Gaspar, Hailey Brooks, and Maya Villarreal-Molina all had hits
• The Toreros built an early 4-0 lead before a five-run outburst in the fourth inning helped seal the deal

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• The Cal State Bakersfield baseball team returned to the comforts of Hardt Field for its 2024 home opening series against the San Francisco
• Behind outstanding starting pitchers and a solid offensive output, the `Runners split the series against the Dons, 2-2.
• Over the weekend, the `Runners looked to a pair of `Runners to lead the offensive attack:
  • UT Cody Hendriks: .556 BA, .778 SLG%, 1 R, 1 RBI
  • OF Jared Bujanda McConnell: .333 BA, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBI
• Pitcher Kellen O’Connor was named Big West Pitcher of the Week on Monday after throwing a gem in the series finale.
• On the season, Bakersfield has a trio of offensive leaders each batting over .300: Elijah Pelayo, Nick Salas, and Matthew Kurata

CSUB 7, San Francisco 11 – Friday, Mar. 1

• Bakersfield gradually scored one run four of the first five innings, building up a 4-0 lead on the back of Ryan Verdugo’s strong start on the mound.
• After Verdugo exited the game, the Dons exploded for seven runs in the sixth inning, taking a 7-4 lead.
• The `Runners scored three runs over the final two innings, but ultimately fell to their visitors.
• Zavien Watson went 3-for-4 at the plate while Jared Bujanda McConnell was 2-for-5.
• Verdugo finished the game with 5.1 innings pitched, allowing just one earned run while striking out six Dons.

CSUB 6, San Francisco 4 – Saturday, Mar. 2 (Game 1)

• The `Runners earned their first win of the season with a  late surge.
• The Dons broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the sixth inning.
• Bakersfield answered back in the bottom of the seventh, scoring five runs to take a 6-4 advantage.
  • Jonah Shields’ pinch hit, two-RBI double capped the offensive outburst.
• Pitching the final 3.2 innings, Tally Wright Jr. earned the win on the mound. He allowed just one run while striking out three.
• Cody Hendriks went 2-for-4 while Bakersfield got four total RBI out of its first three spots in the lineup.

CSUB 2, San Francisco 5 – Saturday, Mar. 2 (Game 2)

• The Dons regained the series lead, 2-1, with a win in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader.
• From another 1-1 tie, USF slowly built a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
• Bakersfield scored one run in the final frame thanks to an RBI single from Bujanda McConnell, but the `Runner rally ended there.
• CSUB starter Jacob Gutierrez was strong in 5.1 innings of work, allowing just one to score while fanning 10 Dons.
• Hendriks posted another multi-hit game, going 3-for-4 from the plate.

CSUB 4, San Francisco 0 – Sunday, Mar. 3

• Bakersfield posted a shutout to even the series in Sunday’s finale.
• The `Runners had a 1-0 lead heading into the sixth before scoring their final three runs in that frame.
• Outfielder Michael Pollard drove in the first two runs with a single.
• Kellen O’Connor dazzled in his start, going eight innings on the mound, allowing just two hits, and striking out 10 batters.
  • O’Connor would later be named Big West Pitcher of the Week for his performance.
• CSUB tallied just five hits in the game, but kept the pressure on the USF pitching staff thanks to six walks, two of them from Gutierrez.

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• The Cal State Bakersfield beach volleyball team continued the season at the Big West / WCC challenge in Santa Cruz this weekend.
• The Roadrunners are led by first-year Head Coach Andy Fulenwider, who guided the `Runners to a 3-0 weekend.
• CSUB is currently on a 4-game win streak, including a win against UTEP two weeks ago.
• This week in Santa Cruz, two `Runner duos went a perfect 3-0:
   - Vivi Kaelin and Ella Erteltova
   - Katey Milne and Isabella Almeida

CSUB 3, Santa Clara 2 – Saturday, Mar. 2
• #3 pair Vivi Kaelin/Ella Erteltova (CSUB) defeated Jordan Bennett/Sveva Munneke (SCU) 24-26, 13-21
• #4 pair Kaia Fanshier/Ella Ensign (CSUB) defeated Alexie Epstein/Hailey Benesz (SCU) 18-21, 18-21
• #5 pair Katey Milne/Isabella Almeida (CSUB) defeated Alexandra Urbina/Alexia Gallegos (SCU) 17-21, 21-23

CSUB 4, Pacific 1 – Saturday, Mar. 2
• #2 pair Vivi Kaelin/Ella Erteltova (CSUB) defeated Josephine Kinlan/Ashley Davies (PAC) 21-15, 21-16
• #3 pair Ava Dalm/Pearl Moore (CSUB) defeated Jadyn Tubbs/Miranda Baptista (PAC) 21-16, 21-13
• #4 pair Katey Milne/Isabella Almeida (CSUB) defeated Mia Rossman/Juliana Alexander (PAC) 21-8, 21-10

CSUB 5, Portland 0 – Saturday, Mar. 2
• #1 pair Megan Gilbert/Olivia Silacci-Jensen (CSUB) defeated Elin Larsson/Leonie Freytag (UP) 21-18, 21-17
• #2 pair Vivi Kaelin/Ella Erteltova (CSUB) defeated Annika Stammberger/Taylor Helle (UP) 21-16, 21-6
• #3 pair Katey Milne/Isbella Almeida (CSUB) defeated Sophie Lee/Valerie Bruk (UP) 21-13, 21-11
• #4 pair CSU Bakersfield defeated Kili Robins/Elena Bullemer (UP) by forfeit
• #5 pair Kaia Fanshier/Ella Ensign (CSUB) defeated Maui Robbins/Jordan Bardouche (UP) 21-10, 21-13
 

• The Cal State Bakersfield track and field program competed well at the Beach Opener despite the rainy weather at Jack Rose Track.  
• Multiple Roadrunner athletes left Long Beach with personal bests. 
• Click here for the full results.  

CSUB at Beach Opener  

• On Friday, the men’s hammer throw was led by junior Javier Toro who placed third overall with a mark of 198’0”. Toro was the highest collegiate finisher in the event. He now holds the #8 all-time mark in CSUB history and currently ranks #1 overall in the NCAA.
• Matthew Garrett and Axel Salazar also placed well in the event. Garrett threw a 196’6”, good for fourth place while Salazar was seventh overall. 
• Neyda Martinez had a pair of career personal bests in the 1500 and 3000. Teammates Valerie Garcia and Helena Valentic earned PB’s in the 3000m as well. Valentic’s time of 10:08.60 was good for fourth place. She opened the 2024 Outdoor season with an 8-second PB. 
• In the 200-meter, for the women, Nerissa Thompson (25.57) and Jahnyl Donaldson-Howden (25.65) finished with PBs. On the men’s side, Matthew Karapetyan went home with a new personal record of 22.37. 
• Jacob Yagers ran well in the 1500 for the second straight meet. Yagers finished the race with a 3:57.01.
• The `Runners are set to compete in Santa Barbara, Calif. at the Sam Adams Invitational on Mar. 8.

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