BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Highlanders went back on the road tonight for the first of three against conference foe, Cal State Bakersfield. While UCR looked for its 12th win of the year, the Roadrunners looked to get number 10.

The Highlanders sent Josh Martinez to the mound for tonight's start, which was his first of the year. His previous 14 appearances came out of the pen. He went a solid four innings, gave up four hits and struck out five.

UCR scored first in the top of the fifth. Robert Pitts stepped up and delivered a two out single to left field scoring Andrew Rivas. Putts then stole second and ended up at third on a throwing error, by the Roadrunners. Tyson Reis then came up with two outs and delivered a RBI single to center, Pitts scored and UCR took a 2-0 lead. 

Kurt Marton relieved Martinez in the bottom of the fifth and went 2.1 innings. He struck out five, too, but gave up two runs in the home half of the seventh. Matt Hudson followed and tried to limit the damage, but with two outs he gave up five runs, and would be saddled with the loss. It was the seventh inning that CSU Bakersfield scored all seven of its runs.

With the loss the Highlanders fall to 11-18 and 2-11 in Big West play. They are back at it tomorrow night with first pitch at 6:30 p.m. You can catch the game on ESPN+.