BAKERSFIELD, California (March 2, 2017)—Host CSU Bakersfield kept a six-game winning streak alive with a 5-4 victory over BYU baseball on Thursday night.

The Cougars, now 3-5, closed the gap to 4-3 by the seventh inning as CSUB, 7-2, held on for the lead in the first of a three-game series.

“This is becoming Groundhog Day and it’s time for the guys who are supposed to be our guys to step up and get things done,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said.

The Roadrunners limited Cougar batters to four hits through six innings while taking leads of 2-0 and 4-0 when scoring those runs with two out in the third and fifth innings.

Cougar Brock Hale led off the seventh inning with a single to extend his current streak to nine games. He advanced to third off Keaton Kringlen’s gap double to set the table for Bronson Larsen’s three-run homer.

Larsen went again to left field for the third time on the evening in the ninth for his fourth RBI to plate pinch runner Brian Hsu for the Cougars’ final run.

BYU failed to deliver in key situations even though CSUB pitchers recorded only two strikeouts as the Roadrunners out-hit the Cougars 12-10. Just when it appeared BYU might have gotten a jump-start in the top of the third with Larsen leading off with a single down the left field line, Daniel Schneemann lined into an inning ending-double play on the opposite side of the field.

The Cougars took advantage of two CSUB miscues in the first and fourth innings in snuffing out theft attempts on batter interference and a runner caught stealing after a back-pick by catcher David Clawson.

The second game of the series will be played on Friday night at 6 p.m. PST.

A return to California against CSU Bakersfield provides BYU’s baseball team an opportunity to work through issues in week three of the season.

The Cougars, 3-4, are hosted by the Roadrunners, 6-2, who are on a five-game win streak.  Games are Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m. PST, followed by a noon finale on Saturday.

“I don't believe our record is indicative of how well we've been playing,” BYU coach Mike Littlewood said.  “Every one of our games have been so close we can point to one or two plays that have determined the outcome of each game. Once we start hitting on all cylinders we should be a very tough team to beat.”

There have been several bright spots in the pitching corps, but late inning rallies have haunted the Cougars. A pair of 3-2 losses in 10 and 13 innings plus a 4-2 loss last week are indicators BYU’s offense needs more consistency.

Maverik Buffo (1-1, 3.27) will start on the mound in Thursday’s opener, followed by Brady Corless  (1-0, 2.03) on Friday, with both games starting at 6 p.m.  PST. Saturday’s Cougar starting pitcher is Kendall Motes (0-0, 0.00) for the noon start.

Cougar pitchers combined for 20 strikeouts in the 13-inning 3-2 loss, including a dozen by Corless.  Buffo got his first victory last week with a 6-0 shutout, striking out eight in his six innings of work. Motes also threw a shutout in his five innings of work when he started last Saturday.

“CSUB is a good team that is off to a very hot start and we're excited to see if we can meet the challenge this week,” Littlewood said.

The Roadrunners have impressive wins over UC Santa Barbara and Utah, who won their respective leagues last season.

After the CSUB series, BYU returns to Provo for its home opener on March 9 which starts a four-game stand against UC Santa Barbara.

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