KENNESAW, Ga. ? What a difference a day makes. One day after allowing 13 runs in two games, the Cal State Bakersfield pitching staff allowed just four runs on 15 hits in three games as the Roadrunners advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Independent tournament Saturday night in Kennesaw, Ga.

Bakersfield (30?26?1) went 2?1 on the day, but easily could have gone 3?0. Freshman Katie Chavez was brilliant but unlucky in Saturday's opener, twirling a two?hitter but losing 1?0 to South Dakota State. Senior Kristyn Daniels then overcame a shaky start with a stellar finish to upset host Kennesaw State 2?1 in eight innings to conclude pool play.

Chavez came back to toss another gem in the quarterfinals against SDSU, this time getting ample offensive support as she spun a four?hitter in an 8?2 Roadrunner victory.

The 'Runners will play Northern Colorado in the first semifinal game Sunday. The winner of that game will face the winner of North Dakota State and Kennesaw State for the tournament championship.

Saturday was an historic day on several fronts for Bakersfield. As a team, its win over Kennesaw State (42?20) was its first over an NCAA Division I opponent since defeating Saint Mary's College 13?2 in March of 1993.

Individually, senior shortstop Kianna Urbanski stole a pair of bases to become Bakersfield's career leader with 63. Senior outfielder Carrie Hilvers (Bakersfield Christian HS) added her fourth home run of the season and the ninth of her career to tie Renee Rubio for fifth on the all?time list.

Chavez lost her best?pitched game as a collegian in the opener, allowing a two?out, RBI single in the fourth inning to spoil an otherwise memorable performance. She retired the final nine Jackrabbits in order, but her offense stranded runners in scoring position in the fifth and seventh innings.

The 'Runners scratched out a first?inning run against Kennesaw State before Daniels tapped dance through a minefield to hold the lead. She allowed four runners into scoring position in the first two innings before pitching out of danger both times.

Daniels settled down from that point, with only Norie Glazebrook's RBI double in the fifth inning to mar her effort. The game went to extra innings and Urbanski made Daniels a winner with a one?out, RBI single in the top of the eighth. Daniels pitched a perfect bottom of the eighth to preserve the win.

Chavez and the 'Runners didn't waste their second shot at South Dakota State. SDSU opened the scoring in the third inning, but Chavez remained in control and, this time, the 'Runner offense rewarded her by exploding for eight unanswered runs. Cara Klein got the ball rolling with an RBI triple in the fourth inning. A two?run double by Kelli Bailey and Hilvers' two?run bomb in the fifth put the exclamation point on the Bakersfield win.

The 'Runners will conclude tournament play and the 2007 season Sunday.

BATTERIES: Marston and Broshar; Chavez and Taylor. WP ? Jenna Marston (10-16). LP ? Katie Chavez (7-6).
HITTERS: CSUB: Pikake Nutter-Gaudet 2x3, 3B; Elise Deering 2x2. SDSU: Dani Broshar 1x3, RBI.

BATTERIES: Daniels and Taylor; Matthews and Gant. WP ? Kristyn Daniels (17-12). LP ? Brittany Matthews (22-5).
HITTERS: CSUB: Kianna Urbanski 1x4, GW RBI, SB (CSUB record 62nd career SB); Cara Klein 2x4, 2B, RBI. KSU: Keir McKee 3x4, 2 2B; Norie Glazebrook 1x4, 2B, RBI; Sarah Hesterman 1x4, 2B.

BATTERIES: Chavez and Taylor; Westendorf, Marston and Kuhl. WP ? Katie Chavez (8-6). LP ? Kim Westendorf (4-15).
HITTERS: CSUB: Carrie Hilvers 3x4, HR (4), 3 RBI; Cara Klein 3x4, 2 runs, RBI; Kelli Bailey 1x3, 2B, 2 RBI; Kianna Urbanski 0x4, SB, 2 runs. SDSU: Kuhl 2x3, 2B, HR (5); Amanda Fedson 2x3, 2 SB, RBI.