BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) baseball team dropped the opening game of a three-game series at CSU Bakersfield (CSUB) 6-5 on Friday at Hardt Field.
 
UTRGV (16-14, 0-4 WAC) took a 2-0 lead in the second on a two-run single by junior Ivan Estrella.
 
Then, down 6-2 in the seventh, sophomore Conrad McMahon hit a two-out RBI-single to make it 6-3.
 
UTRGV tried to rally in the ninth, as with two outs, senior Austin Oakes and Estrella both hit singles to set-up an RBI-single by McMahon. Pinch-hitter and freshman La Joya alum Anibal Leal followed with a walk to load the bases and push the tying run into scoring position. Junior Austin Siener walked to force-in a run and make it a one-run game, but senior Jose Garcia flied out as Naithen Dewsnap escaped with his fifth save.
 
Oakes finished 2-for-3 with a walk. Estrella went 2-for-4 and McMahon finished 2-for-5.
 
That made a winner of Max Carter (4-1), who went 7.1 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out five.
 
Junior Carter Johnson (4-3) allowed just one run over the first five innings, but in the sixth, CSUB (12-9, 1-3 WAC) put runners at second and third with one out. Mahlik Jones hit a groundball to short that Estrella couldn't field cleanly, allowing CSUB to tie the game. Jake Ortega followed with an infield RBI-single and then Cole Valletta singled to drive-in a run. One batter later, with runners at first and second, CSUB attempted a double steal. The throw went into the outfield, allowing a run to score to make it 6-2.
 
UTRGV and CSUB play the middle game of the series on Saturday at 8 p.m.

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