SAN DIEGO ? The CSUB softball team got two solid pitching performances from its young staff to win a pair of games on the final day of the San Diego Classic Sunday afternoon.
Freshman pitcher Bethany Johnson tossed her third shutout of the season to blank Harvard 2-0 in Sunday's opener. Sophomore Shawna Truan then chipped in her first complete game since midway through her injury-shortened freshman season to beat tournament co-host the University of San Diego 5-2.
Johnson (6-5) scattered eight hits to earn the win over Harvard. Although the Crimson had baserunners in six of the seven innings, Johnson allowed just three to reach scoring position. She also fanned a career-high five against no walks allowed.
Senior centerfielder Bethany Snow and freshman rightfielder Chelsey Bell provided all the offense Johnson would need in the first inning. Snow led off the bottom of the first with a triple to deep right before scoring on Bell's sacrifice fly. Bell added a two-out, RBI single in the third inning to give Johnson some insurance.
Bakersfield jumped all over San Diego in the final game of the tournament, chasing starter Jennifer Ellenbeck with four first-inning runs. Hilary Taylor's two-run single was the big blow in the inning.
Truan made that early lead stand up with her second consecutive strong outing. She retired the first six Toreros in order. After allowing single runs in the third and fourth innings, she faced just two batters over the minimum the rest of the way to close out her first win of the season.
CSUB (8-9 overall) returns home from its two-week road trip to host five games in three days next weekend. The 'Runners host former CCAA rival Cal State Dominguez Hills for a doubleheader Friday, Mar. 7. They then play host to Saint Mary's College in a three-game series beginning Saturday.