Feb. 14, 2014

Box Score

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Bakersfield scored five runs in the first two innings to help propel it to an 8-4 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee baseball team in the season opener Friday at Hardt Field.

The Roadrunners (1-0), who came into the game receiving votes in the majority of the national preseason polls, plated a run in the first against the Panthers (0-1) and then added four more in the second to take control.

"I thought we showed some nerves early," UWM head coach Scott Doffek said. "Tyler (Thicke) was really fighting himself the first couple of innings before he settled down a bit. I thought their pitcher did a really nice job with his changeup when we had runners in scoring position the first few innings."

Milwaukee did not give up and scored four runs in the eighth, but that was all as it fell in the first game of 2014.

"That four-run inning they put up in the second really put us in a hole that we just could not dig out of today," Doffek said. "But, I was proud of the way we battled down the stretch. Hopefully we chipped a little ice off today and we look forward to another great opportunity tomorrow."

Senior Tyler Thicke (0-1) earned the start and took the loss, allowing six earned runs in 4.2 innings. He walked three and struck out three.

A pair of newcomers made an appearance on the mound, with sophomore Cal Haley striking out a pair in 1.1 innings and freshman Adam Reuss working a 1-2-3 final frame. Sophomore Jonathan Nick also threw an inning, recording a strikeout.

Taylor Aikenhead (1-0) pitched well for the Roadrunners, allowing just two hits in 4.0 innings. He struck out five and walked just one.

Things looked great at the start for Milwaukee. Junior Derek Peake was hit by a pitch to lead off the game, stole second and was sacrificed to third with just one out. But, Aikenhead induced a comebacker and added a strikeout to get out of early trouble. He also stranded a leadoff double in the third and a two-out runner in scoring position in the fourth inning.

The Panthers finally got on the board in the eighth. After a walk and a Peake double, an error scored the first run and junior Luke Meeteer knocked in the second. Three more walks loaded the bases and set the stage for junior Sam Hammer, who promptly singled up the middle for a pair of runs batted in.

The offense managed just five hits, with Peake, junior Mike Porcaro, seniors Sam Koenig and Pat Wilson and Hammer all recording base knocks.

Preseason All-American Oscar Sanay scored three runs and had a pair of hits to lead CSUB, which also got three RBI from Logan Trowbridge.

These two teams return to the diamond tomorrow for a 4 p.m. CST start.