HOUSTON, Texas--Gyasi Zardes (R-Jr., Hawthorne, Calif., Leuzinger HS) posted a first half hat trick as CSU Bakersfield (7-3-4, 4-2 MPSF) defeated Houston Baptist 4-1 Friday night.

Zardes got on the board at 12:49 when he converted a David Velasquez (R-So., Los Angeles, Calif., Locke HS) crossing pass. The 6-1 forward scored on a penalty kick in the 22nd minute. Jesus Sanchez (Sr., Chula Vista, Calif., Castle Park HS) found Zardes on a long pass for Zardes' 14th goal of the year 1:46 later.

The Huskies' (3-7-2, 1-3-2 MPSF) Thilo Borgmann goal of a rebound broke the seal for the home team in the 53rd minute. Redshirt sophomore Joe Masumiya (Lakewood, Calif., Lakewood HS) scored his first career goal when his one-touch attempt on a Zardes cross went in with a little over 20 minutes remaining in the second half.

"It wasn't a great performance, but we took our chances well," said CSUB head coach Simon Tobin.

The Roadrunners travel to No. 14 New Mexico in a rematch of the 2011 MPSF Championship match on Sunday. Kick is set for 1:30 p.m. (MDT).