California State University at Northridge
19-6
CSU Bakersfield
12-12-1
CSUN Drops 10-7 Decision to CSU Bakersfield
3/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.-
Despite two home runs by Chester Pak, a three-run seventh inning proved to be the difference in CSUN Baseball's (19-6) 10-7 loss to CSU Bakersfield (12-12-1). Pak went 3-for-5 to go with two home runs and three RBI in the contest.
Pak's multi-home run performance is the second time in his career that he has accomplished such a feat. In a victory against UCSB, Pak belted two home runs on Mother's Day in May of 2013.
CSUN jumped on the visiting Roadrunners in the first inning by plating two runs to gain the early advantage.
Singles by Pak and Justin Toerner started the Matador offense in the first and a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Raslowsky moved each baserunner into scoring position. Nolan Bumstead brought home Pak with an RBI single and Nick Murphy drove in Toerner with a sacrifice bunt to make it 2-0.
The Roadrunners evened the game at 2-2 when Ryan Grotjohn hit a two-run home run in the second but the Matadors answered back in the third, scoring twice more to take back the lead at 4-2.
Pak started the third inning by homering to center field and later in the frame, Bumstead picked up his second RBI single of the contest.
CSUN added to its lead an inning later when Pak connected on a two-run home run to right field to give his team a 6-2 lead.
The four-run lead would be erased in the middle innings, as the Roadrunners rallied to score a run in the fifth and four more in the sixth inning to take a 7-6 lead.
Undeterred, CSUN answered back in its half of the sixth inning to tie the game at 7-7. Toerner hit a two-out RBI single to score Blaser from second base to even things up.
The Matadors threatened to take the lead later in the sixth, as Raslowsky hit a single and Bumstead drew a walk to load the bases. The Roadrunners, however, escaped danger when Murphy grounded out to end the inning.
CSUB pushed ahead in the seventh by plating three more runs on two hits and two Matador miscues.
The 10-7 advantage proved to be the final tally, as the CSUN offense could not push across any more runs over the last three innings.
Along with Pak, Toerner and Bumstead each recorded multiple hits on the afternoon. Toerner finished the day 4-for-5 with two doubles and Bumstead went 2-for-3 in the cleanup spot to go with two runs batted in.
CSUN returns to the diamond to open up conference play against Cal State Fullerton for the first of a three-game set on Friday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Matador Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nimmo, Garrett (2-1)
L: Viola, Nick (2-1)
S: Carter, Max (1)
Batting:
2B: Hein, Jordie 1 ; Metzgar, David 1
HR: Grotjohn, Ryan 1
RBI: Hein, Jordie 2 ; Metzgar, David 1 ; Grotjohn, Ryan 2 ; Vehlewald, Nick 1 ; Trowbridge, Logan 2
SF: Trowbridge, Logan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hein, Jordie 1 ; Gusbeth, Chance 2 ; Grotjohn, Ryan 3 ; Vehlewald, Nick 2 ; Trowbridge, Logan 2
Batting:
2B: Toerner, Justin 2
HR: Pak, Chester 2
RBI: Pak, Chester 3 ; Toerner, Justin 1 ; Bumstead, Nolan 2 ; Murphy, Nick 1
SH: Raslowsky, Ryan 1 ; Murphy, Nick 1 ; Colantono, William 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pak, Chester 3 ; Toerner, Justin 2 ; Blaser, Nick 1 ; Colantono, William 1
SB: Akitoshi, Yusuke 1
