DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE VERSION OF THIS RELEASE
THIS WEEK
The Roadrunners (4-19) begin a five-game series against defending national champion Fresno State Friday, Apr. 3. The first three games of the series will be played in Fresno at Beiden Field with first-pitch times scheduled for 6:05 p.m. on Friday, 2:05 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 4 and 1:05 p.m. on Sunday, Apr. 5. The series then moves to Bakersfield's Hardt Field on Tuesday, Apr. 7 and Wednesday, Apr. 8. Both of those games are scheduled for 2 p.m.
LIVE STATS
Live statistics will be available for the Roadrunners' series against Fresno State. Live stats for games at Beiden Field can be found by logging on to gobulldogs.com and navigating to the baseball schedule page. For ?Runner home games, log on to GoRunners.com and navigate to the live stats link off the CSUB main page or the baseball schedule page.
?RUNNER RECAP
Finding the elusive key hit along with untimely fielding errors led to a 5-4 loss to the University of San Francisco Wednesday. Bakersfield had six hits and scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to come within one of the Dons, but could not manage a hit in the final two innings, falling just short. On the defensive side of things, a CSUB error in the seventh accounted for a pair of unearned runs for the Dons, giving them a 5-1 advantage at the time.
On the upside, the Roadrunner pitching staff turned in a solid performance for the second consecutive outing. Starter Sam Jones struck out five, walked one and scattered four hits for a pair of runs in four innings. Closer Spenser Messmore allowed just one hit and one run in three innings.
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCH-UPS
FRIDAY, APR. 3, 2009
CSUB: Mickey Jannis (RHP)
FRESNO STATE: Derek Benny (RHP)
SATURDAY, APR. 4, 2009
CSUB: Jonathan Montoya (LHP)
FRESNO STATE: TBD
SUNDAY, APR. 5, 2009
CSUB: Erik Draxton (RHP)
FRESNO STATE: Holden Sprague (RHP)
TUESDAY, APR. 7, 2009
CSUB: TBD
FRESNO STATE: TBD
WEDNESDAY, APR. 8, 2009
CSUB: TBD
FRESNO STATE: TBD
SCOUTING FRESNO STATE
Fresno State is 14-11 on the season and 13-4 on its home field. After dropping five consecutive games (four to Loyola Marymount and one to Lipscomb), the Bulldogs have won four of their last five, including a 4-2 final over UC Davis on Wednesday. Fresno State broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the ninth courtesy of a two-run walk off home run by Tom Mendonca.
Mendonca is batting .333 on the season with four doubles, 12 home runs and 36 RBIs. Danny Muno leads all batters with a .376 average to go along with seven steals. Alan Ahmady (.351) is the third Bulldog batting over .300, while the team is collectively .274 at the plate.
Right-handed pitchers Derek Benny and Holden Sprague are expected to start against CSUB this week. Benny is 2-1 with a 3.41 ERA in seven appearances. In 29 innings he has struck out 23, walked three and allowed 24 hits. Sprague is 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA in seven appearances. In 43 innings the senior has struck out 25 and walked just seven.
SERIES HISTORY
The Roadrunners and Bulldogs met twice earlier this season as part of Fresno State's Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic. Fresno State easily claimed the first game, 16-1, on Mar. 10, but behind the arm of Mickey Jannis, the ?Runners roared back three days later, nearly claiming an upset, but falling 3-2. Bakersfield scored a pair of runs in the fourth to go up 2-0 and Jannis no-hit the Bulldogs for 5 2/3 innings before experience won out and Fresno State was able to push two runs across in the seventh and the game-winner in the eighth on a squeeze bunt.
MCINTYRE STREAKING
Freshman right fielder Ryan McIntyre has been a consistent presence in the Bakersfield lineup of late, currently holding a nine-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 .298 with seven doubles and a pair of home runs as part of his 28 hits. McIntyre has also been hot on the base path with six stolen bases in the last six 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 Stuart Smith, Martin Medina and Ryan McIntyre, Bakersfield's freshmen class continues to provide the power in the lineup. Smith is batting .313 with five doubles and four home runs. Medina's average sits at .299, but his power hitting has led to team-highs of five home runs, 17 runs and 21 RBIs. He has also hit six doubles. McIntyre is hitting .298 with team-highs of 17 runs and seven doubles. In all, 13 of the Roadrunners' 17 home runs and 38 of 57 extra-base hits have come from the 2012 class.
ON DECK
A six-game homestand continues Thursday, Apr. 9 when the Roadrunners host UC Riverside in a three-game series at Hardt Field. Game time for Thursday and Friday (Apr. 10) is 2 p.m. while the series concludes Saturday, Apr. 11 at 1 p.m.
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.
