April 27, 2010

Box Score

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The LMU baseball team surrendered multiple runs in each inning from the second through the fifth as the Lions (17-21) fell 13-3 to Cal State Bakersfield (18-20) on Tuesday in a midweek game played at CSUB's Hardt Field. The Lions managed just one run on five hits over the first eight innings of play en route to finishing with three runs on eight hits.

Nick Devian proved to be the lone bright spot offensively for LMU, finishing 3-for-4 with a RBI and a double. Devian has now collected multiple hits in back-to-back games, and is 5-for-8 with two runs scored, a double, a home run and two RBI over those two contests. Sophomore Evan Simonitsch contributed the only other RBI for LMU, collecting a sacrifice fly. Jason Wheeler got the start and took the loss after tossing two and a third innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits and a walk. Freshman Alex Sachs lasted just two-thirds of a frame, surrendering five runs on as many hits before giving way to Aaron Griffin. The right-hander allowed the final two Roadrunner runs in two innings of work. Matt Florer, Alex Gillingham and Chris Eusebio all dealt scoreless innings in relief to finish the game on the hill for LMU.

Martin Medina, Kevin Younger and Joey Mills each collected three hits in the victory for Bakersfield, with Mills doubling twice. The Roadrunners finished with 19 total hits, including home runs from Jeremy Rodriguez and Kyle Richardson. Medina got the start on a staff day for Bakersfield, earning the win by tossing three scoreless frames. Jonathan Montoya took over in the fourth inning and pitched five and a third innings, allowing all three Lion runs on six hits and three walks before Spenser Messmore recorded the final two outs of the game.

Cal State Bakersfield got on the board first, and took an early 3-0 lead, with three runs in the bottom of the second. Younger blooped a single down the left field line to start the inning before a bunt single and a one-out walk loaded the bases. Mills, hitting out of the ninth spot in the order, cashed-in on the opportunity, lining a two-RBI double into the gap in left centerfield. The Roadrunners traded an out for a run on the ensuing play, grounding a ball to Jonathan Johnson at second base to push home the third and final run of the frame.

The Roadrunners added three more runs in the third inning to run the tally to 6-0, benefitting from a pair of Lion errors in the frame. After a groundout back to the hill for the first out, Wheeler fielded a ball out in front of the plate, but slipped and could not get a throw off for an error. A wild pitch moved the runner to second base before an infield single and a throwing error on the same play allowed the runner to score the unearned run. Richardson wasted no time plating the final two runs, belting his third home run of the year over the wall in right centerfield on a 3-1 count in the next at bat to spell the end of the day for Wheeler.

LMU ran itself into trouble early in the game, committing two of the three outs in the first inning on the basepaths, one more in the second, and yet another in the fourth. Johnson was caught between second and third on a come-backer in the first before a pair of Lion runners were caught trying to steal. Johnson once again found himself in a pickle between second and third in the fourth inning as Montoya utilized an inside move and picked Johnson off the bag to induce a rundown.

Cal State Bakersfield extended the lead to 11-0 after four innings, scoring five more runs on six hits. The first six hitters reached base safely, as the inning was highlighted by a two-run home run from Rodriguez. Younger and pinch-hitter Derek Geisinger each contributed RBI-singles in the inning.

Trailing 11-0 in the top of the fifth, LMU once again ran itself out of an opportunity. Matt Koch collected a two-out single back up the box, but was caught stealing on a delayed steal attempt to end the frame. It marked the third time the Lions had been thrown out trying to steal in the game.

Bakersfield pushed the tally to 13-0 with two more runs in the fifth inning, both coming into score on sacrifice flies. A pair of singles from Brandon Boren and Rodriguez, teamed with a hit-by-pitch from Medina, set the table for the back-to-back sacrifice flies from Jason Kudlock and Younger.

LMU broke through with a run in the sixth inning, pushing the score to 13-1. Alex Guthrie singled through the left side before a Devian double and a Johnson hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. Simonitsch plated the run with a sacrifice fly to centerfield on the ensuing play, but LMU was unable to do any further damage in the inning. Montoya induced a shallow fly ball from Ryan Hawthorne before striking out Shon Roe on eight pitches to end the inning and strand two runners in scoring position.

LMU managed to plate two more runs in the ninth inning to run the tally to 13-3, but the runs were too little and too late as LMU fell in the game. A throwing error allowed the first run to score before Devian contributed a RBI-single into left centerfield to cap the scoring run.

The Lions return to action this weekend when they welcome Saint Mary's to Page Stadium for a three-game series starting on Friday at 3 p.m.