RIVERSIDE, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield (19-25) secured the series victory with a dominant 14-1 win over UC Riverside (14-28) on Sunday afternoon at The Plex.

The Roadrunners totaled 16 hits and broke the game open late, highlighted by a five-run seventh inning and a four-run eighth to pull away. After taking an early lead in the first on an RBI double from Carter Jorissen, Bakersfield added two runs in the fifth behind a two-RBI single from Devon Wilkes to extend the advantage to 3-0.

UC Riverside got on the board in the fifth, but CSUB responded emphatically in the seventh. Evan Cloyd and Wilkes each delivered RBI doubles before Jacob May capped the inning with a three-run home run to center field, pushing the lead to 8-1. The Roadrunners continued to apply pressure in the eighth, as Kanoa Morisaki and Dusty Vela each drove in runs to extend the margin.

Bakersfield added two more runs in the ninth on a two-RBI single from Cloyd to cap the scoring.

Wilkes led the offense with four RBIs, while May finished with three RBIs including his home run. Elijah Pelayo scored four runs and recorded three hits, and Cloyd added three RBIs in the 16-hit effort.

On the mound, Jacob Gutierrez (4-2) earned the win in relief, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Shane McAlinden got the start, allowing one run over 4.1 innings, while the Roadrunners bullpen combined to hold the Highlanders to just one run on seven hits.

UC Riverside starter Matthew O’Brien (3-4) took the loss after allowing three runs over five innings.

CSU Bakersfield will look to carry the momentum forward after clinching the series over the Highlanders.