Box Score BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Utah Valley defeated Cal State Bakersfield 14-4 on Thursday night in the series opener at Hardt Field. UVU (13-15) had nine different hitters drive in runs to lead the offensive effort against CSUB (12-17). Chipper Beck finished 3 for 5 with three runs scored, and Jimmy De Anda and Jayden Smith each had two RBIs.
 
The Wolverines scored five runs in the third inning to take a commanding lead after CSUB starting pitcher Alex Navarette had trouble finding the strike zone, walking DJ Massey and Hunter Katschke before hitting Kaden Carpenter for the second time in two at-bats. Utah Valley tallied a season-high 13 walks, with nine different players recording a free pass.
 
Utah Valley took advantage of the bases-loaded situation, starting with a single by Mason Strong that drove in one run. Katschke then hustled home on a fielding error to give UVU a 2-0 lead. Beck singled to right field to extend the lead to 3-0 before Strong scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-0. Another fielding error allowed the fifth and final run of the inning to score, making it 5-0.
 
Ray Hernandez made his third start of the season and tossed three innings, allowing five scattered hits and one run. Katschke reached scoring position to start the fourth inning with a double, extending his hitting streak to 15 games. He has now driven in a run in 10 consecutive games. He later scored on an RBI single by Brody Block.
 
The Wolverines led 6-1 entering the top of the seventh inning and looked to pull away. De Anda walked to start the seventh and scored on a two-out single from Carpenter. Aaron Rice worked three innings, tying a season high for the Brillion, Wis., native, who also struck out a season-high four batters.
 
He gave way to freshman Cohen Baack as the Roadrunners rallied and cut the lead to 6-4. When Bradley Gilbert entered the game, he stranded the tying run at the plate on a groundout and went on to secure the save. The sophomore finished with 2 1/3 innings pitched and four strikeouts in his seventh career appearance.
 
The Wolverines did their biggest damage in the eighth, scoring three runs and totaling seven runs across the eighth and ninth innings. The rally began in the eighth when they loaded the bases after Beck doubled to right field and Derek Houston and Cooper Brass walked.
 
Jayden Smith drove in two runs with a double down the left-field line to make it 8-4 before De Anda's sacrifice fly extended the lead to 9-4. Utah Valley added four more runs in the ninth, starting with RBI singles by Houston and Brass to make it 13-4, and Katschke's bases-loaded walk made it 14-4.
 
UP NEXT
The Wolverines and Roadrunners will play the second game of the series Friday night at 7:30 p.m. MT / 6:30 p.m. PT on ESPN+. The series concludes Saturday at 2 p.m. MT / 1 p.m. PT, with no broadcast planned.