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THIS WEEK
The Roadrunners (4-18) play a mid-week single game against the University of San Francisco Wednesday, April 1 at Hardt Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
LIVE STATS
Live statistics will be available for the Roadrunners' mid-week contest against the University of San Francisco. Log on to GoRunners.com and navigate to the live stats link off the CSUB main page or the baseball schedule page.
?RUNNER RECAP
CSUB's struggles continued during three games at San Jose State last week. The Roadrunners dropped all three games to the Spartans, 8-4, 13-10 and 17-2. Saturday, they nearly pulled off another huge comeback by scoring seven runs in the ninth, but the rally fell just short.
The tide turned a bit on Monday in a make-up game against Saint Mary's. The Roadrunners got a standout performance from starting pitcher Erik Draxton and out-hit the Gaels 9-4, but could not get the big hit with runners in scoring position, stranding a dozen on base.
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCH-UPS
WEDNESDAY, APR. 1, 2009
CSUB: Sam Jones (LHP)
USF: TBD
SCOUTING SAN FRANCISCO
The University of San Francisco enters the week with an 11-16 overall record a 1-2 record in the West Coast Conference. The Dons host the Cal Bears Tuesday before making the trip to Bakersfield for the Wednesday match-up.
USF opened WCC play last weekend, dropping two-of-three to Gonzaga, while claiming an 11-4 victory in the middle game. Top offensive performers include Zach Kim and Derek Poppert who carry averages of .368 and .333, respectively. Kim holds team-highs of 42 hits and nine doubles to go along with 20 runs, 15 RBIs, one triple and two home runs. Poppert has 34 hits, four doubles, one triple, one home run and 14 RBIs. Drew Johnson leads the Dons with 21 RBIs on four home runs and six doubles.
The Dons have started seven different pitchers who, along with a staff of relievers, have combined for a 5.70 ERA. Junior right-hander Doug Murray holds a 4-0 record and 4.31 ERA in six starts. Sophomore right-hander Matt Hiserman is 1-3 with a 3.83 ERA and a team-high 43 strikeouts. Other right-handed starters have included Cameron Love (1-1, 3.80 ERA), Alex Kalogrides (2-4, 2.12 ERA) and Sean Burns (0-1, 13.50 ERA). Lefty starters have included Matt Lujan (2-3, 6.69 ERA) and Garrett Luippold (0-2, 12.41 ERA).
MCINTYRE STREAKING
Freshman right fielder Ryan McIntyre has been a consistent presence in the Bakersfield lineup of late, currently holding an eight-game hit streak. He was a perfect 4-for-4 on Mar. 29 against SJSU and had a 2-for-5 (with 2 RBIs) performance against Cal Poly on Mar. 23. The rookie is now batting an even .300 with six doubles and a pair of home runs as part of his 27 hits. McIntyre has also been hot on the base path with six stolen bases in the last five games.
JANNIS AND DRAXTON STEPPING UP
Right-handed pitchers Mickey Jannis and Erik Draxton have turned a corner in recent outings, giving the Roadrunner pitching staff a lift. Jannis' ERA has dropped in each of his past four appearances and now sits at 5.70. He held defending national champion Fresno State hitless for 5 2/3 innings in a 3-2 loss while also turning in a three strike out, four hit seven innings in a 6-2 loss to Cal Poly. Both games were no decisions for the starter who holds a team-best 30 strikeouts.
Draxton, meanwhile, struck out five and allowed just two runs to record the Roadrunners' first-ever program victory back on Feb. 21. He then saw his ERA rise over the next three games until his most recent start against St. Mary's. Draxton turned in a dominating performance against the Gaels, fanning a pair, walking one and giving up four hits for just one earned run in eight innings. He also retired 14 consecutive batters, and 17-of-18 midway through the contest.
FRESHMEN POWER
Led by Martin Medina and Stuart Smith, Bakersfield's freshmen class continues to provide the power in the lineup. Smith leads all players with a .325 average, including five doubles and four home runs. Medina's average sits at .294, but his power hitting has led to team-highs of six doubles, five home runs, 17 runs and 20 RBIs. In all, 13 of the Roadrunners' 17 home runs have come at the hands of freshmen and 37 of 56 extra-base hits have come from the 2012 class.
WALKING WOES
CSUB's pitching staff has accumulated 127 walked batters through 22 games this season, an average of 5.8 per game. Conversely, the ?Runner offense has drawn just 80 walks (3.6 per game). Not allowing “free” bases to opponents is key as CSUB's opponents are hitting .353 with runners on base and just .283 when the bases are empty.
ON DECK
The Roadrunners begin a five-game series with Fresno State on Friday, Apr. 3. The teams play a three game series in Fresno on Friday (6:05 p.m.), Saturday (2:05 p.m.) and Sunday (1:05 p.m.). After a day off on Monday, the teams resume competition on Tuesday (2 p.m.) and Wednesday (2 p.m.) at Hardt Field in Bakersfield.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Bakersfield's inaugural schedule was listed as the 29th toughest in the nation, according to a preseason strength of schedule ranking by boydsworld.com. CSUB has 21 games against 10 opponents ranked above them on the strength of schedule list, including No. 8 Cal Poly, No. 11 Pacific, No. 13 UC Davis, No. 14 UC Riverside, No. 16 Loyola Marymount, No. 18 UC Santa Barbara, No. 21 San Francisco, No. 22 Saint Mary's and No. 24 Cal State Northridge.
TOGETHER AGAIN
Bakersfield is the fourth school coaches Bill Kernen and Jody Robinson have worked at together. The two were assistants at Cal State Fullerton in the late 1970's through 1981. During that time, the Titans, who had just made the transition to Division I in 1975, earned five NCAA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the College World Series and a national championship title in 1979. They also teamed up briefly in 1988, both serving as assistants to former Titan Head Coach Augie Garrido, this time at the University of Illinois. In 1991, Kernen was in his second season as the head coach at Cal State Northridge, leading the Matadors through the transition from DII to DI play. Robinson joined the staff as an assistant coach, helping CSUN to a 44?18?1 record, the West Regional championship game and a top 10 ranking in the final NCAA Division I poll in its first season of DI play.
HARDT FIELD
Coming from the 99 Freeway (north or south) exit at Ming Ave. and proceed WEST to Haggin Oaks Blvd. (approximately four miles). Turn right on Haggin Oaks to Camino Media. Turn left on Camino Media. Turn right into campus on Roadrunner Drive and park in Lot E or I. Hardt Field is located west of Lot E.
TICKETS, PLEASE
Ticket information for all Roadrunner home baseball games may be found online at GoRunners.com or by calling the CSUB Athletics Ticket Office at (661) 654-BLUE.
NEED MORE INFO?
For all of the most up-to-date information about CSUB Baseball and all other Roadrunner sports, check out the CSUB Athletics Web site at: GoRunners.com.
