Cal State Bakersfield’s Isaiah Moten struck out a career-high nine batters to lead the Roadrunners to a 2-1 victory over visiting UC Santa Barbara.
The victory was CSUB’s second in four games over a team that advanced to the NCAA tournament in 2016. UCSB reached the College World Series last season, and was ranked in the top 25 in the preseason. CSUB is now 2-2 on the season.
The Roadrunners scored twice in the second inning when Mark Pena hit into a double play, but the play scored Max Carter from third. On the next at-bat, Jake Ortega doubled to score Ryan Grotjohn.
That was all the Roadrunners would need.
Moten, a sophomore from Temecula, pitched 7-1/3 scoreless innings before giving way to reliever Naithen Dewsnap, who gave up a base hit that scored a run charged to Moten.
Moten’s most commanding inning came in the seventh when he struck out the side.
