EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros baseball team fell to the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners 11-6 on Saturday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium.
 
All nine Vaqueros (19-23, 8-9 WAC) starters reached base at least once each, led by junior Jose Garcia, who went 1-for-3 with a career-high tying three walks and a run scored. Senior Cole Loncar went 2-for-2 with two walks, a sacrifice fly and a run scored. Senior Jacob Huckabay also reached base four times, going 1-for-2 with a career-high three walks and a run scored.
 
The Vaqueros trailed 5-0 after an inning and a half, but junior Austin Oakes hit a two-run double in the bottom of the second to make it 5-2.
 
Then, after the Roadrunners (10-34, 5-14 WAC) added three runs to chase sophomore Robert Quinoñez (2-1) in the third, the Vaqueros added two runs on seven walks, one error and three sacrifice flies over the next two innings to pull within 8-6.
 
The last two sacrifice flies came in the fourth against Mahlik Jones (1-0), who moved from third to the mound and pitched five innings of one-hit relief. Jones also hit a three-run home run in the second.
 
The Roadunners pulled away in the middle of the game, as Jake Ortega hit a two-run double in the fifth and Chance Gusbeth hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
 
Ortega finished 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, two RBI and one run scored. Gusbeth went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
 
The Vaqueros and Roadrunners complete this three-game series on Sunday at 12 p.m. in a game that will be broadcast live throughout Texas on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (323). Any fans bringing four non-perishable food items to the game will receive a free ticket as part of the Strike Out Hunger Promotion. All donations benefit the Food Bank RGV. Gates open at 11 a.m.

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