BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Interstat) — Noah Karliner went 5 for 6 with a home run and seven runs batted in to lead UC Santa Barbara to a 19-9 victory over Cal State Bakersfield on Sunday evening at Hardt Field.

The Gauchos, who improved to 30-15 overall and completed a three-game Big West sweep of the Roadrunners, pounded out 21 hits. Cal State Bakersfield fell to 19-27.

Karliner’s seven RBIs were the most in a single game for UC Santa Barbara this season. He entered the contest in a recent slump, having gone 1 for 8 in the first two games of the series, but broke out with a two-run home run in the second inning and added a three-run double in the fifth.

Nate Vargas contributed three hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs. Rowan Kelly collected four hits and three RBIs. Corey Nunez finished with four hits and an RBI. Nick Husovsky drove in two runs and scored three times.

Cal State Bakersfield took an early lead. The Roadrunners scored four runs in the first inning against UC Santa Barbara starter Montgomery. Wilkes doubled in a run, Kanoa Morisaki doubled in a run, Nick Mascaro drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt and Pelayo singled in a run.

UC Santa Barbara answered in the second. After Vasseur reached on an error and stole home, Karliner homered to center field to give the Gauchos a 6-4 lead.

The Roadrunners cut the deficit to 6-5 in the third when Mascaro doubled in Bennett. Cal State Bakersfield then pulled within 6-6 on a double by Vela.

But UC Santa Barbara broke the game open in the fifth. With the bases loaded, Karliner doubled to right field, clearing the bases and putting the Gauchos ahead 9-6.

UC Santa Barbara added three more runs in the sixth. Kelly doubled in Nunez, Husovsky singled in Kelly and Goldstein doubled in Husovsky to make it 12-6.

Cal State Bakersfield answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a groundout by May and a sacrifice fly by Cloyd, making it 12-8.

The Gauchos put the game away in the seventh. Vargas hit a two-run homer to right field after Nunez singled in Karliner, extending the lead to 15-8.

Mascaro drove in a run for Cal State Bakersfield in the seventh on a double, making it 15-9.

UC Santa Barbara added four more runs in the ninth. Vargas doubled in Nunez, Kelly singled in Vargas, Husovsky singled in Kelly and Karliner singled in Husovsky.

Gauchos pitchers Chase Hoover, Nathan Aceves and AJ Krodel combined to hold the Roadrunners scoreless over the final two innings. Hoover pitched two innings of hitless relief with four strikeouts. Aceves struck out five over 3 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs. Krodel retired the only batter he faced on a strikeout.

The most critical sequence occurred in the fifth inning with the score tied at 6. UC Santa Barbara loaded the bases with two outs on walks to Husovsky, Goldstein and Esquer. Karliner then cleared the bases with a double, giving the Gauchos a lead they never relinquished.

Karliner’s performance was the top star for UC Santa Barbara. He also singled in the seventh and the eighth, finishing with five hits in six at-bats.

UC Santa Barbara completed the sweep after winning 4-3 on Saturday and 18-1 on Friday.

The Gauchos return home to face Pepperdine on Tuesday before a three-game series at Cal State Northridge beginning Friday.

Cal State Bakersfield hosts Fresno State on Tuesday, then welcomes UC San Diego for a three-game series starting Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of UC Santa Barbara 6, Cal State Bakersfield 5. Interstat’s ELO system had projected UC Santa Barbara with an 85.10 percent probability to win.