BAKERSFIELD – CSU Bakersfield used a four-run bottom of the seventh inning to come from behind and win their season opener over visiting Oakland University, 5-4, Friday night at Hardt Field in front of an announced crowd of 637. The Roadrunners out hit the Golden Grizzlies 12-3, overcoming three errors to start the season 1-0 for the first time since 2017.
"We didn't play a clean game today, but we did enough to win, and we'll take it," said CSUB Head Coach Jeremy Beard. "We competed well, but we take care of the baseball a bit better and it could have been an easier night for us."
Andrew Allanson and Angel Saldivar each had three hits for Bakersfield, while leadoff man Jashia Morrissey and shortstop Aaron Casillas had two.
Starter Benji Caggianelli and reliever Jaykob Acosta combined on a three-hitter and didn't allow an earned run.
Oakland starter Bryce Konitzer was excellent, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing just one earned run while scattering eight hits.
The `Runners led 1-0 into the fifth, before Oakland scored three unearned on a walk, a single, an error and a wild pitch. The Grizzlies added another unearned run in the sixth, setting the stage for the Bakersfield rally.
NOTABLE...
* CSUB starting pitchers worked into the fifth inning just 17 times during the 2021 season. The `Runners are 1-for-1 in 2022 thanks to a dazzling debut from Bakersfield College transfer Benji Caggianelli. Caggianelli allowed just one hit, walked four and struck out seven, without allowing an earned run, in five innings of work.
* Jaykob Acosta tossed the final four innings to earn the first win of his Bakersfield career. Acosta retired the final 11 batters he faced, striking out four and allowing just two hits and a walk.
* Andrew Allanson became the first player in school history to reach base four times in his CSUB debut. Allanson was 3-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and two RBI. The previous record was three, shared by Jacen Roberson and Kobe Silva who each accomplished the feat in the 2020 season opener and catcher Jeremy Rodriguez had three hits in the 2009 opener, the first game in school history.
* The Roadrunners pounded out four doubles on the night, getting two-baggers from catcher Angel Saldivar and outfielders Cory Blackburn, Jashia Morrissey and AJ Miller.
* Saldivar's three-hit game was the second of his career. He also posted three hits on Mar. 19, 2021 in a win over UC Riverside.
* CSUB made a habit of winning one close games a season ago, finishing 10-4 in games decided by two runs or less.
* Outfielder and Bakersfield native, Cory Blackburn, made his second career start, getting the nod in left field.
QUOTABLE...
"The biggest challenge today was setting the nerves aside. We came out a little choppy, but we picked things up once we got comfortable. We trust the guy behind us in the line-up and that's what makes us a great team."
- DH Andy Allanson on CSUB's come-from-behind opening night win
ON DECK...
The Roadrunners and Golden Grizzlies will play the second game of a three-game series Saturday night at Hardt Field, with first-pitch set for 6:05 p.m. Junior right-hander Cody Tucker gets the start for CSUB. Tucker pitched 40.0 innings in 2021, striking out 30 and turning in a 6.30 earned run average. He'll be opposed by Oakland's Chas Sagedahl, a left-handed transfer from Dallas Baptist.
