Riverside—With 37 runs scored in the first two games between UC Riverside and CSU Bakersfield, Sunday's rubber match promised more of the same. Neither team disappointed, as they plated a combined 12 runs on 27 hits, but unfortunately, it was the Highlanders on the short end of a 7-5 decision.
UC Riverside (11-8) cut the Roadrunners lead to one on three separate occasions Sunday, but in each instance, Bakersfield (10-5) bounced back with a run of their own in the subsequent inning, to keep the Highlanders at bay.
For the third straight game, the Roadrunners jumped on top in the first inning, plating a pair on a Ryan Grotjohn double down the right field line off of UCR starter Daniel Martinez. Bakersfield kept up the pressure in the top of the second, as Austyn Tengan drew a leadoff walk, and moved to second on a wild pitch. Junior Felix's double to left to make it a 3-0 ballgame.
With the Highlanders breaking for finals for the next nine days, much of the UC Riverside bullpen was available, and Head Coach Troy Percival brought in Ricky Delgado to replace Martinez after the Felix double. A ground out to second moved Felix up 90 feet, and Andrew Penner singled up the middle to put the 'Runners up by four.
The Highlanders got their offense in gear in the bottom of the frame, as Aaron Cisneros led off the inning with a solo shot to left center, and Matt Hardy drilled a two-run shot to left center allowing UC Riverside to inch to within one.
The 'Runners didn't let up, though, scoring their fifth run of the game on an RBI double by Tengan in the top of the third.
Although both teams had opportunities, the score remained 5-3 until the bottom of the sixth. That is when Connor Cannon unloaded on the first pitch of the at bat from 'Runners' reliever Isaac Mesa, and deposited it over the center field wall.
As they did in the top of the third, though, CSU Bakersfield, countered the Highlanders' charge with a run in the very next inning, as Grotjohn picked up his third RBI of the day with a double to center.
The Roadrunners went to the pen again to start the bottom of the seventh, and Aaron Cisernos greeted Kenny Johnson with a shot off the Courtyard Marriott sign in right field. The ball caromed off the wall, and bounced past right fielder Sergio Robles towards second base. Cisernos hopped on his horse, and rode it all the way to third for a stand up triple.
AJ Sawyer's sac fly to right scored Cisernos, and again cut the CSUB lead to one, 6-5..
For the third time of the afternoon, though, the Runners were able to push their lead back to two, as Penner's single up the box in the top of the eighth off of reliever Ryan Lillie scored Tengan.
And that's where the score would stay as the Highlanders put single runners on in the eighth and ninth, but were unable to score. Naithen Dewsnap pitched the final two innings for Bakersfield for his fourth save of the season.
Martinez (1-1) took the loss for UCR, and Meza (1-0) was credited with the win for the 'Runners.
The Highlanders are back in action at San Diego on Tuesday, March 28 beginning at 6 pm PT.
