LOS ANGELES ? CSUB softball may still be a fledgling NCAA Division I program, but Sunday afternoon the Roadrunners went toe?to?toe with an NCAA power, splitting a doubleheader at 2007 NCAA Regional finalist Loyola Marymount at Smith Field.

LMU climbed out of an early hole to take game one 5?2 before CSUB came back to win the nightcap 3?1.

While Bakersfield (14?18 overall) held its own in some tough early losses to established powers ? including a 2?1 loss to Fresno State, a 7?6 loss to Oregon and a 3?0 loss at UCLA ? Sunday's second game victory marked the first time the 'Runners broke through to beat an NCAA Tournament contender.

The second game victory came as vindication for CSUB after it played well but squandered opportunities in the opener. The 'Runners jumped out to a quick 2?0 lead in the first inning before the defense provided some big plays to help freshman pitcher Brittany Johnson make that lead stand up.

The two biggest plays came via CSUB's specialty in 2008 ? the double play. Bakersfield entered the week leading the nation in turning double plays and Johnson coaxed a pair of twin killings at critical junctures.

The first came in the second inning after LMU loaded the bases and pushed a run across with one out. Johnson got Amy Charpentier, a Highland High School graduate, to hit a one?hopper to third, where Heather Veitch started a 5?2?3 double play. Christine Foley tried to spark another LMU rally with a lead off single in the sixth, but Johnson got pinch hitter Jennifer Nayudu to ground into another double play to end the final Lion threat.

CSUB strung together three singles in the seventh inning to add an insurance run it ultimately wouldn't need.

In the opener, Veitch's two?out, infield single drove home Kristen Archuleta to stake CSUB to an early 1?0 lead. But a Charpentier RBI double capped a two?run third inning for LMU, and Chelsie Tysdal clubbed a three?run homer in the fifth inning to give the Lions some breathing room.

Bakersfield, meanwhile, put runners on base in six of seven innings but could manage just two runs. Hilary Taylor's first home run of the season led off the seventh and sparked a mini rally. Veitch and Snow both reached base following Taylor's shot, but the 'Runners couldn't complete the comeback despite bringing the potential tying run to the plate three times.

Rightfielder Bethany Snow led the 'Runner offense with four hits on the day, including three hits and a double in the opener. Second baseman Cara Klein also hit safely in both games to raise her career?best hitting streak to 13 games.

CSUB will continue its tour of the Pacific Coast Softball Conference with a doubleheader at Santa Clara University Tuesday.

BATTERIES: Truan, Schlegel (6) and Taylor; Dykema and Tysdal. WP ? Melissa Dykema (10-6). LP ? Shawna Truan (2-5).
2B ? Snow (B), Nutter-Gaudet (B), Charpentier (L), Hartung (L). HR ? Taylor (B #1), Tysdal (L #9).

BATTERIES: Johnson and Taylor; Pagano and Pagnini. WP ? Brittany Johnson (10-8). LP ? Tiffany Pagano (14-5).
2B ? Slouber (L), Hartung (L).