Saturday, March 22
Bakersfield, Calif.
6:30 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
4-15, 1-7
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Cal State Bakersfield
8-17, 3-2
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CSUN
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CSU Bakersfield
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Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Evens Weekend Series in Bakersfield with 7-4 Win
3/22/2025 10:00:00 PM | Baseball
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.---CSUN Baseball scored seven runs over the middle innings and received quality pitching and defense the rest of the way in a 7-4 victory over Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday at Hardt Field. Jarren Sanderson finished with two hits and two RBI while Trent Abel drove in three runs. On the mound, Diego Gutierrez gave the Matadors a big lift with six innings of work, allowing four runs to go with five strikeouts to collect the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Gutierrez blanked the 'Runners over the first two innings before CSUB pushed across a run in the third on an RBI double from Cody Hendricks. However, Gutierrez limited the damage by picking up a double play to end the third then got out of a jam in the fourth on the back of another double play followed by a key strikeout of Tyler Leroy.
Meanwhile, CSUN could not figure out starter Shane McAlinden over the first four innings. McAlinden no-hit the Matadors over that span, only allowing two base runners.
In the fifth though CSUN would turn things around on the offensive end. After a Matthew Kurata walk, Royce Clayton, Jr. picked up a one-out double and Abel followed with a two-run single to put CSUN on top 2-1.
The Matadors though were far from done in the fifth. All with two outs, Kyle Panganiban knocked in Abel with a single to left field and Andrew Becker added another run with a line drive double to left. The lead would grow to 5-1 moments later when Sanderson rifled a single to left field, capping a five-run frame.
Trailing by four, the 'Runners capitalized on a CSUN throwing error to quickly answer with a run in the bottom of the fifth. The lead then shrunk to 5-4 on a two-run homer from Elgin Bennett. Gutierrez would walk the next batter but picked up a key strikeout of Tyrese Johnson for the third out.
Looking for some breathing room, CSUN responded with a single tally in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, CSUN manufactured a run without the benefit of a hit as two walks, a sacrifice bunt and a groundout off the bat of Abel scored Kurata from third base. An inning later, the Matadors picked up a big two-out hit from Sanderson who singled home Andrew Gauna for a 7-4 lead.
CSUN's pitching would protect the lead over the late innings. Following a 1-2-3 sixth from Gutierrez, Logan Miller took over on the mound in the seventh and induced a timely 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Miller worked his way through a shutout eighth before handing the baton off to Gabriel Hernandez in the ninth. CSUB though did not go away quietly as back-to-back singles put two runners on base with nobody out. With the tying run at the plate, Hernandez induced a groundball off the bat of Evan Cloyd, leading to the Matadors' fourth double play of the game. Moments later, Hernandez fanned Nick Mascaro for the final out.
NOTES OF THE GAME
"Offensively, we are beginning to develop some key contributors. The bullpen and Diego carried us and that's the kind of execution we need to turn this season around."
UP NEXT
CSUN and Cal State Bakersfield will play the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Gutierrez blanked the 'Runners over the first two innings before CSUB pushed across a run in the third on an RBI double from Cody Hendricks. However, Gutierrez limited the damage by picking up a double play to end the third then got out of a jam in the fourth on the back of another double play followed by a key strikeout of Tyler Leroy.
Meanwhile, CSUN could not figure out starter Shane McAlinden over the first four innings. McAlinden no-hit the Matadors over that span, only allowing two base runners.
In the fifth though CSUN would turn things around on the offensive end. After a Matthew Kurata walk, Royce Clayton, Jr. picked up a one-out double and Abel followed with a two-run single to put CSUN on top 2-1.
The Matadors though were far from done in the fifth. All with two outs, Kyle Panganiban knocked in Abel with a single to left field and Andrew Becker added another run with a line drive double to left. The lead would grow to 5-1 moments later when Sanderson rifled a single to left field, capping a five-run frame.
Trailing by four, the 'Runners capitalized on a CSUN throwing error to quickly answer with a run in the bottom of the fifth. The lead then shrunk to 5-4 on a two-run homer from Elgin Bennett. Gutierrez would walk the next batter but picked up a key strikeout of Tyrese Johnson for the third out.
Looking for some breathing room, CSUN responded with a single tally in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, CSUN manufactured a run without the benefit of a hit as two walks, a sacrifice bunt and a groundout off the bat of Abel scored Kurata from third base. An inning later, the Matadors picked up a big two-out hit from Sanderson who singled home Andrew Gauna for a 7-4 lead.
CSUN's pitching would protect the lead over the late innings. Following a 1-2-3 sixth from Gutierrez, Logan Miller took over on the mound in the seventh and induced a timely 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Miller worked his way through a shutout eighth before handing the baton off to Gabriel Hernandez in the ninth. CSUB though did not go away quietly as back-to-back singles put two runners on base with nobody out. With the tying run at the plate, Hernandez induced a groundball off the bat of Evan Cloyd, leading to the Matadors' fourth double play of the game. Moments later, Hernandez fanned Nick Mascaro for the final out.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN improves to 4-15 overall and 1-7 in Big West play while Cal State Bakersfield drops to 8-17 overall and 3-2 in conference.
- Kurata scored two runs and reached base three times.
- Becker extended his on-base streak to 15 games.
- In relief, Miller allowed no hits over two shutout frames to go with a strikeout.
- Hernandez earned his first career save with his shutout ninth inning.
"Offensively, we are beginning to develop some key contributors. The bullpen and Diego carried us and that's the kind of execution we need to turn this season around."
UP NEXT
CSUN and Cal State Bakersfield will play the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gutierrez, Diego (2-2)
L: McAlinden, Shane (1-2)
S: Hernandez, Gabriel (1)
Batting:
2B: Becker, Andrew 1
RBI: Panganiban, Kyle 1 ; Becker, Andrew 1 ; Sanderson, Jarren 2 ; Abel, Trent 3
SH: Clayton, Jr., Royce 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gauna, Andrew 1 ; Panganiban, Kyle 1 ; Becker, Andrew 1 ; Kurata, Matthew 2 ; Clayton, Jr., Royce 1 ; Abel, Trent 1
SB: Gauna, Andrew 1 ; Panganiban, Kyle 1 ; Sanderson, Jarren 1 ; Kurata, Matthew 1
CS: Calvillo, Cameron 1
HBP: Panganiban, Kyle 1 ; Abel, Trent 1
PO: Calvillo, Cameron 1
Batting:
2B: Alvarez, Noah 1 ; Cloyd, Evan 1 ; Hendriks, Cody 1
HR: Bennett, Elgin 1
RBI: Hendriks, Cody 1 ; Bennett, Elgin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Alvarez, Noah 2 ; Hendriks, Cody 1 ; Bennett, Elgin 1
SB: Mascaro, Nick 1 ; Bennett, Elgin 1 ; Pelayo, Elijah 1 ; Johnson, Tyrese 1
CS: Pelayo, Elijah 1
HBP: Cloyd, Evan 2 ; Bennett, Elgin 1 ; Johnson, Tyrese 1
Game Leaders
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RBI
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RBI
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AB
4
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RBI
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2
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2
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1
RBI
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Players Mentioned
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