NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – In an offensive showdown that needed an extra inning to decide the outcome, the Cal State Bakersfield baseball team came out victorious thanks to a clutch base hit from freshman Thompson and stellar relief pitching from Bakersfield native Jacob Gutierrez. The Roadrunners outlasted the Matadors for an 8-6, 10-inning victory as Bakersfield took a 2-0 lead on the Big West series, clinching its second-straight series win.

After three quiet innings, the `Runners broke through to plate six runs in the top of the fourth inning. Bakersfield's comfortable lead would be short lived as CSUN answered back in the bottom of the fifth for five runs of its own. Coming into the weekend as the top two offenses in The Big West, the two teams looked as if they were primed for an offensive shootout, but Gutierrez's dominant pitching held the Matadors to just one run over the final 5.2 innings. The righty scattered five hits while striking out two batters on the way to the CSUB victory.

In the top of the tenth, CSUB Head Coach Jordon Banfield called Thompson out of the dugout into a pinch hit situation. The true freshman delivered in the clutch, sending a 2-RBI double down the left field line to put CSUB ahead 8-6.

Gutierrez came back out to take the mound for one final inning and retired the hot-hitting Matadors in order to seal the win.

The Roadrunners will look to complete the series sweep in the finale on Sunday in Northridge. Catch the action live on ESPN+, or make the drive to support CSUB in person!

~ GoRunners.com ~