BAKERSFIELD, CALIF. – Freshman Kelli Bailey played the role of hero early and late Saturday to lead the Cal State Bakersfield softball team to a 1–0 and 3–1 sweep of Cal State Monterey Bay at the Roadrunner Softball Complex in Bakersfield.

Bailey legged out an infield single on a bang–bang play with two outs in the first inning of game one, scoring Bethany Snow for what proved to be the only run of the game. She then came on in the bottom of the seventh inning in the nightcap to deliver a walk off two–run homer as the Roadrunners completed the sweep.

Senior pitcher Kristyn Daniels was in complete control for Bakersfield in the opener. She fanned three in a three–hit shutout — her seventh of the season — and allowed just three baserunners after the first inning, including none over the final four frames.

Cal State Monterey Bay workhorse Jessica Boyle gave a gutsy performance in the opener, allowing just five hits and two walks. But Bailey's close play in the first was just enough of a margin for the 'Runners to pull out the win.

The game of inches seemed to work in Monterey Bay's favor in the second game. The Otters strung three first–inning hits together to take a 1–0 lead. Boyle, meanwhile, lost nothing in her second start of the day.

She finally made a mistake in the third inning when, with a runner on second base, Carrie Hilvers hit a ball to deep centerfield. The ball hit the top of the fence and, instead of bouncing over for a two–run home run, stayed in play for a double and a 1–1 tie.

The Roadrunner freshmen pitching tandem of Shawna Truan and Katie Chavez, meanwhile, found its grove after Truan yielded the first-inning run. The duo did not allow another hit while giving up just one walk through the sixth inning.

But both teams had chances in the seventh.

Pinch hitter Amanda Mueller hit a one-out double to straight away center field, just missing what would have been her first home run of the season. First baseman Marissa Trujillo followed with a hard line drive to leftfield that went straight to Hilvers for the second out. Chavez then coaxed Leann Wacker to ground out to end the threat.

Kianna Urbanski led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single up the middle. Hilvers sacrificed Urbanski to second before she moved to third on a wild pitch. That set the stage for Bailey, who drilled Boyle's 1–1 offering well over the fence in left centerfield.

It was Bailey's first–ever walk-off home run, and she wasn't sure what to do. After rounding first, she started to run to the celebration at home plate until her teammates told her to finish running the bases.

It was a lesson learned both for Bailey and the young Roadrunner (26–17–1, 18–10 CCAA) team, which now has won four consecutive games for the first time this season. Cal State Monterey Bay dipped to 17–34 and 4–24 with the losses.

Bakersfield returns to the road for its next six games, opening a four–game series at Humboldt State on Apr. 13. The Roadrunners return home to host Cal State San Bernardino in their regular season finale on Apr. 22.

BATTERIES: Boyle and Artoff; Daniels and Taylor. WP – Kristyn Daniels (16-7). LP – Jessica Boyle (12-27).
HITTERS: CSUB: Kelli Bailey 1x3, GW RBI; Bethany Snow 1x1, 2B, GW run; Pikake Nutter–Gaudet 1x2, 2B. CSUMB: Marissa Trujillo 1x2; Megan Luna 1x3; Kristin Rasmussen 1x3.

BATTERIES: Boyle and Artoff; Truan, Chavez (5) and Taylor. WP – Katie Chavez (5-2). LP – Jessica Boyle (12-28).
HITTERS: CSUB: Kelli Bailey 1x3, walk-off 2 –run HR (4); Carrie Hilvers 2x3, 2B, RBI. CSUMB: Ashlee Trotter 1x3, RBI; Amanda Mueller 1x1, 2B.