BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? The CSUB softball team overcame a sluggish start with a slugging finish to earn a split of its Saturday afternoon doubleheader with Saint Mary's College at the Roadrunner Softball Complex.

Saint Mary's won game one 3?1 before CSUB came back late to earn an 8?7 win in the nightcap.

Sophomore third baseman Kelli Bailey led the CSUB (11-10 overall) offense by going 3-for-5 with a double, homerun and three RBI. Megan Galloway went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI to pace the SMC (5-10) attack.

Bailey homered for the second consecutive day to cap a four?run sixth inning that ultimately decided game two. The Roadrunners began the inning trailing 5?4 before Nette Puente's two?run triple gave Bakersfield the lead. Bailey followed with a homerun to deep left center for what proved to be a pair of critical insurance runs.

SMC scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to close to within 8?7. The Gaels put runners on second and third with one out before game one starter Brittany Johnson, the third Roadrunner pitcher of the game, coaxed Lauren Clark to pop to short and Kayla Aldridge to ground out to third to earn her first collegiate save.

It didn't appear to be CSUB's day from the outset Saturday. Gael freshman pitcher Maryanne Cronin had trouble finding the strike zone but kept CSUB's hitters off balance with her change up all game. When the 'Runners did make solid contact, her defense made several great plays behind her.

After a slow start to the 2008 season, the Gael offense found its stride, pounding out 10 hits in the opener. For as hard as they hit the ball, the Gaels opened the scoring thanks to a bunt single and by Molly Bergeson and a two?out single off Johnson's leg by Megan Galloway. Sandra Ruezga gave Cronin some insurance with a two?run homer in the fifth.

CSUB scored its only run in the sixth when Bethany Snow led off with a double and scored on a two?out single by Cara Klein.
The second game started ominously for CSUB when Bronwyn Russell led off the game by beating out a single to short and stealing second before eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly.

But the 'Runner offense finally found its stride in the second inning. Danielle Lyman's two?out, RBI single started a streak in which the 'Runners would score at least once in each of their final five at bats.

Bakersfield added single runs in the third and fourth innings to go up 3?1 before Saint Mary's appeared to regain control with a four?run fifth capped by a three?run homerun from Galloway.

The 'Runners got one back in the fifth and then exploded for four of their own in the sixth. The comeback marked the fifth time in seven home games this season that Bakersfield has come back to win in its final at bats.

CSUB and Saint Mary's will close their three?game series with a single game Sunday at the Roadrunner Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for noon.

Cronin and Smith; Johnson and Taylor. WP ? Maryanne Cronin (2-2). LP ? Brittany Johnson (7-5).
2B ? Snow (B), Clark (SM). HR ? Ruezga (SM) (2).

Bergeson, Cronin (3), Galloway (5) and Smith; Truan, Chavez (6), Johnson (7) and Taylor. WP ? Katie Chavez (2-3)). LP ? Megan Galloway (2-4). Sv ? Brittany Johnson (1).
2B ? Bailey (B), Klein (B), Loftis (SM). 3B ? Puente (B). HR ? Bailey (B) (2), Smith (SM) (6), Galloway (SM) (2).