Bakersfield Takes Series Opener 6-4

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Chicago State out-hit Bakersfield but came up short in the run column on Friday (April 11) evening as the Cougars fell to the Roadrunners 6-4 at Hardt Field in the first of a Western Athletic Conference three-game series with the Roadrunners.
 
The Roadrunners scored three in the bottom of the second thanks to a pair of Chicago State errors that ignited the inning. The first was on a muffed throw at second base on what looked like a routine double play off the bat. If completed it would have put two outs on the board before a run had crossed the plate. The second came on a dropped fly ball.
 
"Not many teams are good enough to give away three runs and battle back," Chicago State head coach Steve Joslyn said. "We had a double play ball that needed to be turned and a fly ball that needed to be caught."
 
The Cougars loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth. Senior Nathan Poff (Sellersburg, Ind./New Albany) singled up the middle to score a pair and make the game 3-2. It didn't stay a one-run game for long after Bakersfield followed with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Chicago State answered with a run in the fifth on an RBI single by junior Chase Matheson (McHenry, Ill./McHenry). However the Cougars would have liked to have done more damage after leaving the bases loaded to end the inning. It was a similar story in the seventh. Chicago State loaded the bases without the benefit of a hit and earned just one run on a sacrifice fly to left field by junior Robert Swenson (Mason City, Iowa/Mason City). It would be Chicago State's final serious threat of the game.
 
Junior Eric Hall (Oakville, ONT/Oakville Trafalgar) started for the Cougars and was handed the loss to drop his record to 2-2. He allowed six runs (four earned) on nine hits over 5.1 innings of work. Bakersfield starter Taylor Aikenhead picked up the win for the Roadrunners. He is now 5-4 on the year after allowing three runs over six innings. Max Carter earned the save for Bakersfield.
 
Junior Andrew Wellwerts (Cedar Lake, Ind./Hanover Central) threw the final 2.2 innings for the Cougars. He didn't allow a hit or a run.
 
California native junior Jared Patterson (Ventura, Calif./Buena) had three hits, two walks, two stolen bases and a run scored. Matheson recorded two hits, a run scored, a RBI and a walk. As a team, the Cougars recorded 10 hits to Bakersfield's nine.
 
"We hit well again today," Joslyn said. "Eric didn't have his best stuff but he competed. Andy was real good which we needed to see from him. We need to clean up the mistakes and play a cleaner game."
 
Bakersfield improves to 11-18 (5-5 WAC). The Cougars fall to 10-19 (0-7 WAC). Chicago State and Bakersfield plays game two of their three-game series on Saturday in a 6 p.m. PT/8 p.m. CT start.