SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Returning home after a tough travel week through Southern California, Sacramento State faltered in Wednesday afternoon's match against CSU Bakersfield, falling 2-0 to the Roadrunners.

With the loss, Sacramento State is now 3-8-3 overall and 1-2-2 in Big West action. CSU Bakersfield improves to 4-7-1 and 3-2 in league play.

Sacramento State looked like the more dominant team in the first half, controlling possession in the Bakersfield half of the field and generating five shots in the half. Unfortunately, none of those shots found their mark and the Hornets were unable to put any true pressure on Roadrunners goalkeeper Scott Pengelly. 

After 45 minutes, the Hornets held the advantage in shots, 5-4. Three of those Bakersfield shots were on target, by Ryan Curtis was perfect in goal, saving all three. Sacramento State also held the edge in corner kicks, taking two of Bakersfield's one. 

Things changed quickly in the second half when, in the 47th minute, a hard tackle in the box by Sacramento State's Zack Moss drew a whistle and resulted in a penalty kick opportunity for the Roadrunners. Bakersfield's Carlos Armendariz, who came into the match a perfect 3-for-3 in penalty kick chances, buried his fourth in the far side net past the diving Curtis to put the Roadrunners up, 1-0. 

Chasing the equalizer, Sacramento State continued to develop chances, but continued to struggle with placing those shots on goal, forcing Pengelly to make just one save.

CSU Bakersfield put things away late with its second goal in the 79th minute. After taking advantage of a Hornets turnover at midfield, the Roadrunners' Stephon Marcano played a quick forward pass to Justin Markus, who split the Sacramento State defense and, despite an initial block by Curtis, managed to sneak one over the line and into the back of the net.

In total on Wednesday, the two teams were even in total shots, each taking nine, though the difference came in shots on goal, where CSU Bakersfield led, 8-1. 

Curtis made six total save, including a pair of spectacular saves in the 73rd. After blocking the initial shot, Curtis managed to deflect the second attempt just enough to direct it into the cross bar before the defense cleared the ball out of the box. 

Although certainly not its first match against CSU Bakersfield, Wednesday's contest was the first between Sacramento State and Bakersfield as co-members of the Big West. CSUB joined the conference in 2020 from the Western Athletic Conference.

Up next, the Hornets host another Big West newcomer, the UC San Diego Tritons, on Saturday. The matchup will be the first between the two teams in program history. 

Saturday's match is set for a 3 p.m. kickoff and will stream live online on ESPN+ with live stats available at HornetStats.com. As always, all links can be found by visiting the Sacramento State men's soccer schedule online at HornetSports.com.