Facing the top team in the league, Seattle University allowed CSU Bakersfield to get its offense rolling early, and the Roadrunners cruised to a 13-1 victory over the Redhawks Friday evening in a Western Athletic Conference baseball game at Hardt Field.
CSU Bakersfield (32-18, 15-7 WAC) started the scoring in the bottom of the second as Cael Brockmeyer advanced all the way to third base when his fly ball was misplayed. Mylz Jones drove in Brockmeyer with a single up the middle, Chance Gusbeth reached on an infield single, and Jones would come around to score on a single through the left side by Frank Martinez.
Kevin Younger laid down a bunt single to load the bases with nobody out, and Jordie Hein hit a single down the left field line, driving in both Gusbeth and Martinez. Oscar Sanay followed with a single to right-center field, scoring Younger and Hein. Tyler Shryock notched the Roadrunners’ seventh consecutive hit with a double down the right field line, ending the night for Seattle U starter Andrew Olson (Enumclaw, Wash.).
Ted Hammond (Shoreline, Wash.) came on and induced a lineout from Dylan Christensen, but Sanay was able to score on the play. For the second time in the inning, Brockmeyer reached on an error, Jones walked to load the bases, and a sacrifice fly from Gusbeth brought in Shryock. The inning finally ended when Hammond struck out Martinez, but not before CSUB took an 8-0 lead.
Seattle U broke through in the top of the third inning, as Chase Fields (Ontario, Ore.) notched a one-out single and Nate Roberts (Silverdale, Wash.) doubled to left-center field with two outs. On a passed ball committed by Martinez, Fields scored, and Brian Olson (Black Diamond, Wash.) drew a walk, putting Redhawks on the corners, but CSUB starter Jeff McKenzie ended the inning with a strikeout.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, Sanay singled and advanced to third as Shryock reached base on the Redhawks’ fourth error of the game. Christensen drove in Sanay for the second time, this time with a single through the right side of the infield, reestablishing an eight-run lead for the Roadrunners.
The Roadrunners continued the offensive onslaught in the fourth inning as Jones led off with a single, Gusbeth drew a walk, and Younger was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Hein brought in Jones and Gusbeth with a single, and Sanay followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Younger. After Shryock extended the inning with a single, Hammond induced a popout to end the Roadrunner threat.
In the bottom of the fifth, Brockmeyer greeted Redhawk reliever Jake Chutney (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) with a double to left-center field, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single to right field by Martinez. McKenzie gave up leadoff singles in the sixth and seventh innings, but kept the margin in double digits to bring about the 10-run rule that ended the game prematurely.
Roberts went 2-for-3 to lead the Redhawks, who were limited to six hits as McKenzie picked up his 12th win of the season against only one loss. CSU Bakersfield collected 14 hits, with five different players earning two hits apiece. Hein drove in four runs, while Sanay finished with two runs scored and three RBI.
Seattle University (19-30, 8-13 WAC) continues the weekend series with CSU Bakersfield Saturday, May 11, at 6 p.m. Dan Giuliani will broadcast the contest on GoSeattleU.com, starting with the pregame show shortly before first pitch.