SAN FRANCISCO — More early runs Saturday for host CSU Bakersfield stood up this time, as the Roadrunners evened the non-conference series against the University of San Francisco baseball team with an 8-4 win at Hardt Field.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSU Bakersfield (3-3) scored seven runs in the first three innings Saturday, a day after scoring five in the first two. They had five in the first two again on Saturday, thanks in large part to a three-run blast by Damian Henderson that made it 5-0.
   
• The Roadrunners chased USF starter Grant Young (0-2) without an out recorded in the third after the first three batters reached base (two singles, hit-by-pitch). In came Nick Roth, who, after a bases-loaded walk to the first batter he faced and a run-scoring fielder's choice, would retire 11 in a row with six strikeouts. He finished with four shutout innings of no-hit relief, one of the best outings by a Dons pitcher this season.
   
• Like in Friday's opener, the Dons started working their way back in the later innings. Robert Emery scored the Dons' first run in the fourth after a leadoff double. San Francisco rallied for three more in the seventh after another leadoff double from Harris Williams. An RBI single from Matthew Mendibles, and two run-scoring fielder's choice ground balls (with a CSUB error thrown in the mix) allowed the Dons to pull within three at 7-4.
   
• The Dons looked to be getting ready to strike for more in the eighth with two in scoring position and no outs following a double by Jacob Munoz, bringing the tying run to the plate. But a hard-hit ball right to the second baseman followed by a double play killed the rally, and that was as close as the Dons would get on the scoreboard.

COACH GIARRATANO QUOTES

• "Tough first three innings today. We were down 7-0, battled back to 7-4 with no outs in the eighth and could not score partly due to a crucial baserunning mistake."
   
• "Roth was big for us out of the bullpen with four scoreless, Harris Williams had a big hit off the bench and Yovetich had another solid performance, as well as Munoz."

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 1: No players had more than one hit for USF Saturday, the first time this season the Dons haven't had a multi-hit game from someone. Their six total hits was their second-lowest total of the season after collecting five in the season opener on Feb. 14.
• 6: Roth's six strikeouts matched a single-game high for a USF pitcher this season. Alex Pham also struck out six in 4 2/3 on Friday.

COMING UP

• The rubber match of the series comes at noon Sunday when the Dons throw out right-hander Landen Bourassa against the Roadrunners. Fans can find all live coverage links on USFDons.com.