BAKERSFIELD, Calif. --- Taylor Aikenhead tossed a complete game and the Roadrunners scored two runs during both the sixth and seventh innings as CSU Bakersfield claimed the series finale 5-1 over the Portland Pilots at Hardt Field on Sunday afternoon. The Roadrunners won the opener on Friday, while Portland took the second game 3-0 on Saturday.
Cal State Bakersfield (6-6) opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the second inning. D.C. Legg opened the frame with a lead-off single before coming all the way around to score on a double into the right-center gap by Stuart Smith.
The Pilots quickly responded with the tying run in the top of the third. After sophomore Zack McCoy tagged a lead-off double down the left field line, freshman Michael Lucarelli picked up the RBI with a base hit up the middle to make it a 1-1 game.
A few batters later the Pilots had runners on second and third with one out, but Aikenhead got out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
Neither team would score again until the Roadrunners pushed a pair across in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, Tyler Shyrock hit a bases loaded double that scored two, while Legg registered a two-run double in the seventh to give CSU Bakersfield the 5-1 lead.
The four-run cushion was more than enough for Aikenhead (3-0), who scattered seven hits, struck out five and walked one.
Chris Johnson (1-1) takes the loss for Portland after allowing three runs in 5.1 innings. The junior right-hander allowed seven hits and three walks. He also fanned five. Relievers Brandon Snyder, Kody Watts and Keeler Brynteson followed Johnson on the hill, with Snyder and Watts both getting charged with a run.
The Roadrunners out-hit the Pilots 9-7, and CSU Bakersfield committed the game’s only error.
The Pilots now enter a stretch where they’re scheduled to play 12 of their next 13 games at the friendly confines of Joe Etzel Field. Concordia visits The Bluff for a 2 p.m. game on Tuesday, while Air Force comes to Portland for a four-game series next weekend.
