CSU Bakersfield does just enough to topple the ‘Bows

Cal State Bakersfield made the most with the minimum in Wednesday’s 4-3 baseball victory over Hawaii at Hardt Field in Bakersfield, Calif.

The Roadrunners relied on three hitters who accounted for all their runs and hits, and a starting pitcher with a three-touchdown earned-run average in this nonconference game.

“We didn’t play well enough,” UH coach Mike Trapasso said in a telephone interview following the game. “We didn’t pitch well enough. We certainly didn’t hit well enough. And I certainly didn’t coach well enough. It will be a long bus ride back (to the hotel). I let the guys down.”

Asked what he would have done differently, Trapasso said: “It starts with scheduling the game. Right out of the gate. It was a mistake to begin with.”

The Rainbow Warriors, who fell to 20-13, were seeking a mid-week road game leading to this weekend’s showdown at Cal State Fullerton. The ’Bows (6-3) and Titans (4-2) are 1-2 in the Big West Conference standings.

UH’s intent was to use at least five pitchers on pitch limits that would allow them to be available for Friday’s series-opener against Fullerton. But the plan’s loophole was Luis Martinez, a 5-foot-11, 210 pound third baseman. Martinez belted two homers over the wall in left field. His first solo homer tied it at 1 in the second. His second bases-empty homer gave the Roadrunners a 4-1 cushion.

Five UH pitchers allowed two walks, but both resulted in runs. Designated hitter Daniel Nist and left fielder Christian Deaton both scored on Andrew Penner’s two-run double to break a 1-all tie in the third inning.

“We didn’t pitch poorly, but in a mid-week game, you have to score more than three runs,” Trapasso said. “At the same time, you can’t walk two guys and have them come around and score. It was a very frustrating, disappointing game.”

UH third baseman Ethan Lopez continued his productive play since returning to the lineup a week ago after missing 14 games because of a sore left wrist. Lopez hit a two-run homer to close UH to 4-3 in the sixth inning.

“Ethan got us back in the game, and he kept us in the game with his defense,” Trapasso said. “The kid almost single-handedly kept us in the game. That’s what you get with Ethan.”

The top and bottom of the UH order — shortstop Maaki Yamazaki and center fielder Dylan Vchulek — each had two hits. But other than Lopez, the ’Bows were inconsistent offensively from the second through eighth spots.

“We just didn’t put it together,” Trapasso said. “It’s nothing more than that. It’s not like we were lethargic. We didn’t score enough runs. We gave them two more runs than we should have.”

CSUB right-hander Isaac Meza, who entered with a 22.50 ERA, was making his first start after three relief appearances. He held the ’Bows to five hits and one run in five innings.

Penner and Deaton each contributed two hits for the Roadrunners, who improved to 14-21.

The ’Bows are now 0-2 in nonconference games in California this season.

The ’Bows will practice tonight in Fullerton ahead of Friday’s opener.