BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Facilities enhancements continue to be a focal point for the Cal State Bakersfield Athletics Department. Wednesday night at the Baseball program’s Leadoff Dinner, CSUB President Dr. Vernon B. Haper Jr. announced the next step in that direction. Through a combination of philanthropic donations – both by individual and corporate donors – funds raised at the annual Hot Stove Dinner and financial support from the University, CSUB has made the $1.1 million investment to improve the home field of the `Runners with a brand new turf field.
CSUB will break ground on the turf project in May of 2026, following the conclusion of the baseball season. The shift to artificial grass provides a number of benefits, including a consistent playing surface throughout the season as well as increased opportunities to host local baseball players in games, tournaments, camps, and many other events.
“Installing a state-of-the-art turf surface at Hardt Field has been a huge priority of mine since arriving on campus last summer,” said Jordon Banfield, Head Coach of the Roadrunners. “Everyone in our program as well as the entire Kern County Baseball community will benefit from this huge upgrade and I couldn’t be more thankful that our donors and the University were able to work together to get this project across the finish line.”
In Wednesday’s announcement at the Leadoff Dinner, Harper echoed those thoughts: ” The new surface will be an absolute game changer. The quality of the playing surface will rival the turf used by our competitors, putting us on an even playing field, literally, and our players and coaches will no longer be responsible for maintaining the field, freeing up more time for training, practicing, and winning.”
CSUB has partnered with Sprinturf, one of the nation’s leaders in manufacturing and installing artificial surfaces, to design the turf that will make Hardt Field stand out, both visually and functionally.