BAKERSFIELD, CALIF. ? The move to NCAA Division I status brought early excitement to the CSUB softball program Saturday as the Roadrunners pulled off a pair of thrilling late rallies to sweep Western Athletic Conference hopeful San Jose State 4-3 and 7-5 at the Roadrunner Softball Complex.
SUB (2-1 overall) trailed 3-2 before rallying for a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning of game one. Trailing 5-2 in the nightcap, the Roadrunners exploded for five unanswered runs?including four in a six-hit sixth inning?to complete the sweep.
Senior second baseman Cara Klein played the hero's role in game one, lifting a single over the drawn-in infield to drive home Nette Puente with the game-winner. In game two, Bethany Snow and Klein capped a four-run rally with two-out, RBI singles to help freshman pitcher Bethany Johnson earn her first collegiate victory.
Sophomore Katie Chavez picked up her first win of the season in game one, overcoming a shaky start with five solid innings to shut the door on the Spartans. Chavez threw nearly half of her 143 pitches in the first two innings as San Jose touched her for three runs but, more importantly, left the bases loaded each inning.
After dodging those bullets, Chavez settled down, shutting down the Spartans on four hits the rest of the way.
Johnson, meanwhile, suffered through one bad inning in an otherwise solid performance. San Jose climbed out of an early 2-0 hole by touching Johnson for five runs and six hits.
Displaying poise that belied her freshman status, Johnson settled down after the big third inning to shut out the Spartans on three hits over the final four innings to set the stage for CSUB's second dramatic comeback.
Klein had the big offensive day for CSUB, going 5-for-7 with two RBI. Sophomore Kelli Bailey went 3-for-4 in game two and 4-for-7 in the doubleheader.
Shortstop Kelli Fangonilo went 2-for-2 with an RBI to lead San Jose in game one. Third baseman Kayla Hayes went 2-for-3 with two RBI in the nightcap.
CSUB and San Jose State will close their four-game, season-opening series with a single game Sunday at 10 a.m.
Score by Innings R H E
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San Jose State...... 120 000 0 - 3 9 1
CSU Bakersfield..... 110 000 2 - 4 11 2
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Note: 1 out, 3 runners LOB when the game ended.
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E - McCONNELL(1); BAILEY(2); ARCHULETA(1). LOB - SJSU 13; 'RUNNERS 9. 2B -
BAILEY(1); LYMAN(1). HBP - FANGONILO. SH - ROBERTSON(1). SF - HAWKINS(1).
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Score by Innings R H E
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San Jose State...... 005 000 0 - 5 10 0
CSU Bakersfield..... 020 014 X - 7 14 0
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DP - 'RUNNERS 1. LOB - SJSU 5; 'RUNNERS 10. 2B - HAYES(1). HBP - FANGONILO. SF -
SMITH(1); TAYLOR(1). SB - TAYLOR(1); PEREZ(1).
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