• The Roadrunner men’s basketball team (8-24, 2-18 BW) came up short in both games during the final week of the 2025-26 season. 
• As they did all season, CSUB’s 1-2 punch of guard Dailin Smith and power forward Ronald Jessamy continued to lead the `Runners this week. 
  • Smith averaged 23.5 points per game on 44% shooting while Jessamy averaged a double-double with 17.0 points and 10.0 rebounds to go with 35 blocks a contest. 
• Cal State Bakersfield averaged 73.1 points per game on the year, good enough for second-best in the program’s Division I era (since 2007-08). 
• CSUB wrapped up the season second in the program’s history with 157 blocks on the year. 
  • Jessamy was the major catalyst to that defensive effort as his 56 blocks came up just shy of CSUB’s individual single-season record (60). 

What’s Next? 

• The 2025-26 season has come to an end as Cal State Bakersfield was not one of the Top 8 finishers in the Big West standings, missing out on postseason play. 
• The `Runners look forward to a new era of CSUB men’s basketball ahead, with the tenth Head Coach of the program expected to be hired in the near future. 

CSUB 84, CSUN 86 

• The `Runners and the Matadors (19-12, 12-7 BW) went back and forth throughout the game with both teams leading by 10 points at one point in the game. 
  • CSUN held a 10-point advantage with 9 minutes remaining in the game, and the Matadors were just barely able to stave off a CSUB comeback to hold on for the 2-point victory thanks to a layup with 5 seconds left on the clock. 
• Thursday’s 84 points marked the 9th time this season the `Runners tallied 80+ in a game. 
• Ronald Jessamy and Dailin Smith went off for 23 pints each while Jessamy added 9 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 3 steals. 
• Guard CJ Hardy chipped in 10 points, 5 boards, 4 assists, and 2 steals while playing 39 minutes. 

CSUB 76, Cal Poly 108 

• The `Runners posted a solid scoring output, but it paled in comparison to the century mark for which Cal Poly (14-18, 10-10 BW) ignited. 
  • The Mustangs went on a 21-2 run over the final 5 minutes of the first half, shutting the door on the `Runners. 
• Dailin Smith led Bakersfield with 24 points while adding 3 blocks and 3 assists. 
  • The offensive outburst was Smith’s 10th game this season scoring 20 or more. 
• Dylan Purnell tallied 11 points and 8 boards off the bench while Ronald Jessamy recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. 

• In the final week of the 2025-26 season, the Cal State Bakersfield women’s basketball team (7-23, 2-18 BW) dropped its final two games. 
• Despite ending the year on a losing streak, CSUB came into the final week of the season with more than triple its win total from the year prior, showing marked progress in its second year under Head Coach Ari Wideman. 
• CSUB finished the year with 266 steals as a squad, ranking Top 10 in the program’s history for a single season. 
• As she did all season long, Chrishawn Coleman led the `Runner offense this week, averaging 10.0 points a game while chipping in 4 steals across the pair of contests. 
• Center Tena Ikidi added 2 more blocks to her season total to end up at 42 blocked shots, which ranks her No. 5 in CSUB’s single-season list. 

What’s Next? 

• The 2025-26 season has come to an end as Cal State Bakersfield was not one of the Top 8 finishers in the Big West standings, missing out on postseason play. 
• The `Runners will continue rebuilding, riding momentum from increasing their win total by 350% from Year 1 to Year 2, looking to make the 2026-27 season the best yet in the newest era of CSUB women’s basketball. 

CSUB 47, CSUN 82 

• Cal State Bakersfield fell behind early against CSUN (10-18, 6-13 BW) on the way to the largest margin of defeat of the season. 
• Point guard Morgan Hawkins led the Roadrunners with 12 points, her 13th double-digit scoring effort of the season. 
• CSUB’s chief issue was a poor shooting performance during which the `Runners made just 23% of their field goals, including a 3-of-27 performance from behind the arc (.111). 

CSUB 54, Cal Poly 66 

• Cal State Bakersfield faltered in the second quarter against Cal Poly (4-26, 2-18 BW), losing the period 20-8, and the `Runners were never able to close the gap by a significant margin in the second half. 
• Senior Marley Langi, playing in her final game as a `Runner, paced the team with 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting. 
• Chrishawn Coleman contributed 15 points in the season finale. 
• The `Runners collectively put together a better shooting performance this time around, but Cal Poly outrebounded CSUB 44-34 in San Luis Obispo, Calif. 

• Cal State Bakersfield’s baseball team played four games over another busy week, including a day trip to Berkeley and a Big West home-opening series. 
• Prior to the start of the season, Head Coach Jordon Banfield promised fans that his squad would play an exciting brand of baseball and they delivered this past weekend. 
  • The Roadrunners lead the Big West with 114 runs scored this season, 20 more than the next closest team. 
• CSUB’s hitters have belted 18 home runs this season, putting the `Runners just outside of the program’s single-season Top 10 just 16 games in. 
• For the second-straight week, first baseman Evan Cloyd absolutely raked at the plate, going 9-for-15 (.600) across the pair of games with 7 RBI. 
• On the mound, Payton Pudenz (2.0 IP, 3 app), Joe Tootle (2.0 IP, 2 app), and Joe O’Regan (2.0 IP, 1 app) all were effective, allowing 0 earned runs on the week. 

 What’s Next?  

• CSUB welcomes an Education Day opponent before heading out for its first Big West road series: 
  • vs. Westcliff 
    • Education Day 
    • Mar. 10, 11 a.m. 
    • Limited tickets available for non-students, game will be live on ESPN+ 
  • at Cal Poly 
    • Mar. 13-15 
    • San Luis Obispo, CA 
  • Schedule and Tickets 
    • Skip the line, buy online! 

CSUB 6, California 15 

• CSUB traveled up to Berkeley to face ACC opponent California for a midweek game. 
• The Golden Bears got out hot, taking a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the third inning where Cal scored 6 more runs. 
• Trailing 13-1, Bakersfield started a rally in the top of the sixth, scoring five runs in the frame thanks to RBI base hits from Adam Salazar, Evan Cloyd, and Matt Dobson. 
• Cal scored the final two runs in the next half inning on the way to the 15-6 final score. 
• Cloyd went 3-for-3 at the plate with 3 RBI, leading CSUB’s offense in the road loss. 

CSUB vs. Cal State Fullerton 

• Bakersfield (6-10, 1-2 BW) had a chance to win the series against Cal State Fullerton (6-9, 2-1 BW) but stuttered early in the rubber match, ultimately dropping the series 2-1. 
  • L, 5-3 
  • W, 9-3 
  • L, 13-7 
• Bakersfield enjoyed great offensive outputs up and down the lineup. A few highlights: 
  • Outfielder Nick Mascaro went 6-for-9 (.667) on the weekend with 3 RBI. 
  • Shortstop Elijah Pelayo hit .615 (8-for-13) while tying Evan Cloyd for a team-high 4 RBI on the series. 
  • Cloyd, Mascaro, and catcher Kanoa Morisaki each hit one home run during Saturday’s contest, pushing Bakersfield’s offense to a win. 
• CSUB starters Ryan King (5.1 IP Friday, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K) and Shane McAlinden (5.0 IP Saturday, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) put together solid outings, giving the `Runners a chance to win both of those contests. 

• The Roadrunner softball team continued the 2026 season by hosting an extra-inning thriller against its cross-valley rival before hitting the road to open Big West play. 
• The 2026 edition of the CSUB softball team sees 9 returners welcome in 14 newcomers under the leadership of Interim Head Coach Alyssa Graham. 
• Bakersfield saw efficient weekends out of Aileen Balderas (4-for-9, 2 runs) and Aariana Harrison (4-for-9, 2 runs) while Molly Gill led CSUB with 3 RBI. 
• Freshman Cedes Saldana continued to be the workhorse of the CSUB pitching staff, appearing in all 4 games this week and starting 3 of them. 

 What’s Next?  

• CSUB returns home to host its first Big West series of the season: 
  • vs. CSUN 
    • Mar. 13-14 
    • Bakersfield, CA 
    • Conference Opening Series/Schedule Magnets 
  • Schedule and Tickets 
    • Skip the line, buy online! 

CSUB 3, Fresno State 4 (9 inn.) 

• Cal State Bakersfield took on Fresno State in a Midweek Clash dubbed as Rally for the Valley. 
• Bakersfield and Fresno State started the game off trading runs in the first 4 innings. CSUB struck first off a throwing error that allowed Kayla Whaley to score. They then scored two more in the third inning off of a Jillian Sanchez single.  
• `Runner pitcher Cedes Saldana pitched 7.0 innings against the Bulldogs but was unable to finish the game, giving up a game-tying run in the seventh. Amber Estrada came in relief and gave up a run in the ninth which ultimately gave Fresno State the win. 

CSUB vs. Long Beach State 

• The `Runners traveled to Long Beach, Calif. for a three-game set to kick off Big West play, coming up one game short of a series victory: 
  • CSUB 3, LBSU 9 
  • CSUB 7, LBSU 1 
  • CSUB 1, LBSU 9 (6 inn.) 
• Aileen Balderas and Aariana Harrison each went 4-for-9 (.444) on the weekend, providing the most consistent offense. 
  • Freshman Cailee Carr went 2-for-4 with an RBI in limited opportunities. 
• Molly Gill (3) and Hannah Garcia (2) drove in the most runs on the weekend for Bakersfield. 
• A native of Wasco, Calif., Cedes Saldana posted a 4.31 ERA on the weekend, tossing 13.0 of the 18.1 innings played. She tallied one complete game and struck out five batters across her three appearances. 

• The Roadrunner beach volleyball team continued the 2026 season with a road trip to Long Beach to face four teams, three of which received national recognition. 
• Cal State Bakersfield went 0-4 on the weekend but put together a solid showing with room for improvement.  
• CSUB generally coasted against its foes, taking lessons learned against a tough slate on Opening Weekend and applying them in this week’s contests. 

 What’s Next?  

• CSUB heads back out to SoCal, this time, for a Pepperdine-hosted event. 
  • at Malibu Invite 
    • Mar. 13-14 
    • Malibu, Calif. 
    • Four matches over two days vs. Pepperdine and Hope International 

CSUB at Long Beach State Invitational 

• The Roadrunners battled but came up just short against a strong slate of opponents: 
  • CSUB 0, #9 LMU 4 
  • CSUB 1, Santa Clara 4 
  • CSUB 2, #14 Stetson 3 
  • CSUB 1, (RV) UAB 4 
• CSUB dropped to 3-8 on the season with the losses but will look to take the lessons learned from tough battles into the remainder of the season. 
• Bakersfield's most consistent play this weekend came out of its first and fourth flights, both of which went 2-2 across the four matches. 
• The `Runners took #14 Stetson to the brink. A third-set tiebreaker at the third flight went in favor of Stetson, 15-13, sealing a narrow victory over CSUB. 

• The Cal State Bakersfield wrestling team battled against some of the best wrestlers in the country at the Pac-12 Championships, concluding the season with one final tournament. 
• A 2025 NCAA Qualifier, redshirt senior Richard Castro-Sandoval came up just one win short of earning a return trip to the National Championships this season. 
• Seventh-year Head Coach Luke Smith saw a group of younger `Runners step up this season while enjoying a core of veterans who finished their careers with strong seasons. 

 What’s Next? 

• The 2025-26 season has concluded and the `Runners will begin preparations for next season. 

CSUB at Pac-12 Championships 

• Cal State Bakersfield traveled to San Luis Obispo, Calif. for the 2026 Pac-12 Championships, hosted by Cal Poly. 
• The Roadrunners went to the tournament looking to clinch some automatic qualifiers for the NCAA Championships, but came up just short, including one win away in the 125-pound weight class. 
• As a team, CSUB placed fourth of the four Pac-12 wrestling programs (Oregon State 1st, #16 Little Rock 2nd, Cal Poly 3rd). 
• A trio of `Runners showed out at the tournament hosted in Tulare, Calif. 
  • 125: Richard Castro-Sandoval dropped his first-round matchup against eventual Pac-12 Champion #20 Koda Holeman (CP). Bakersfield’s redshirt senior rallied to win the third-place match, then had the opportunity for a true-second match against top-seeded #8 Maximo Renteria (OSU). Castro-Sandoval pushed Renteria to the break, but ultimately lost in a 12-8 decision, narrowly missing out on a return to NCAAs. 
  • 133: RJ Jones 1-1 on the tournament to finish in third place, a great sign of things to come out of the true freshman. He outlasted Anthony Lucio (CP) 
  • 141: Santino Sanchez posted a 1-1 record ion his way to a third-place finish, including a 9-1 major decision over Alek Vanbebber (CP). 
  • 149: Hayden Zinkin went 0-2 to finish fourth, but he battled hard in one of the tougher weight classes. Zinkin’s pair of losses came against two nationally-ranked foes, including a 2-0 decision vs. #24 Noah Tolentino (OSU). 

• The Cal State Bakersfield’s track and field program competed well at the Beach Opener, hosted by fellow Big West member Long Beach State. 
• The Roadrunners competed against strong competitors such as UCLA, Maryland, UNLV, San Diego State, UC Irvine, Long Beach State, and CSUN. 
• CSUB had a combined medal count of five, finishing top three in the field, closely behind Maryland and UCLA who totaled seven each.

Beach Opener – Mar. 6-7 

• On Friday, Javier Toro placed eighth overall in the men’s hammer throw. His mark of 64.86m (212’9”) was the fourth-best among collegiate athletes. 
• On the women’s side, Grace Pardon captured a personal best mark of 51.90m (170’3”) and is now fifth all-time in program history for the hammer throw. She finished tenth overall in the event.  
• On Saturday, the women’s 4x100m relay team ran the program’s fastest time since 1983  when the crossed the finish line in first place with a time of 46.01. Makiah Parker, Rionna Wallace, Teague Marietta, and Chizi Okey-Dike all ran well. 
• Emilia Mandela earned herself first place in the women’s 100m Hurdles with a time of 14.62. Teammate Ivy Miller ran a 15.39, good for fourth place.  
• In the women’s 100m, Rionna Wallace (11.80) and Makiah Parker (11.94) both finished in the top three. Both athletes qualified for the Big West Championships with their times.  
• Ivy Miller placed third in the women’s 400mH with a time of 1:04.61. 
• Rionna Wallace, Chizi Okey-Dike, and Teague Marzetta all placed top ten in the women’s 200m. Wallace led the way with sixth and a time of 24.70. 
• Francisco Felix Jr. finished first in the men’s 3,000m and a new school record time of 8:28.70. Teammate Ismael Nungaray ran the fifth fastest time in program history after crossing the line in 9:16.15.  
• Javier Toro placed sixth in the men’s shot put with a mark of 16.35m (53’7.75”). 
• In the women’s triple jump, Skye Odom finished seventh after landing a 11.37m (37’3.75”).  
• Javier Toro (HT/SP), Adam Torres (HT), Daniel Hartman (HT), Grace Padron (HT), Rionna Wallace (100m), and Makiah Parker (100m) all qualified for the Big West Championships.  
• Bakersfield is back in action on Thursday, Mar. 12 for the Ben Brown Invite hosted by the Cal State Fullerton Titans.