It was a great day for a ball game on the Bluff Sunday afternoon as the Pilots took on the California State Bakersfield Roadrunners on Joe Etzel Field with the goal of evening out their series. But after a solid start, the Pilots failed to do so, losing 10-8 and going 3-1 in the series.
In conjunction with senior pitcher Camden Muller and good defensive fielding, the Pilots were able to shut the Roadrunners out for the first four innings, similarly dominating offensively with six runs through the first three innings.
Although the Pilots were able to keep the Roadrunners off the scoreboard for the first four innings, at the top of the fifth the tide changed as CSU quickly got four runs to the Pilots two.
Mueller was substituted for left handed senior pitcher Jordan Horak at the top of the sixth, but was unable to stop the momentum that CSU had gained.
Unable to score for the next four innings, including a seventh inning, the Pilots continued to play well defensively for the most part, but their lead quickly diminished after a series of successive mistakes led to four runs for the Roadrunners at the top of the ninth.
The Pilots next game will be against Oregon State this Tuesday in Corvallis.
