Saint Mary's Takes Rubber Game, 3-2

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? Saint Mary's College scored a pair of unconventional runs in the first inning, added one more in the second, then held on for a 3?2 victory over CSUB in the finale of a three?game series Sunday at the Roadrunner Softball Complex.

Saint Mary's scored twice in the first inning on a play where both teams made miscues. With the Gaels attempting a double steal with no outs, CSUB catcher Hilary Taylor overthrew third base trying to get the lead runner.

Leftfielder Pikake Nutter?Gaudet alertly backed the play up while trailing runner Molly Bergeson sped almost to third base before realizing teammate Bronwyn Russell was still there. Nutter?Gaudet ran Bergeson back towards second base but threw the ball into right field, allowing both runners to score.

Saint Mary's strung together three consecutive two?out hits to add a run in the second inning. Russell's two?out single through the left side brought home Lauren Clark.

With starting pitcher Maryanne Cronin once again keeping the Roadrunners off balance while keeping the ball out of the strike zone, as she did in her 4?1 win Saturday, the lead appeared safe. But Bakersfield battled back. The Roadrunners loaded the bases with one out in the third, but Kelli Bailey's RBI single brought home the only run of the inning. Taylor made it 3?2 when her single drove home Cara Klein, who doubled to lead off the fourth.

Two?out singles by Klein and Kristen Archuleta gave the Roadrunner another opportunity in the sixth inning, but Cronin worked out of that jam. Stefanie Frei singled with two outs in the seventh to bring Bailey ? who homered on Friday and Saturday ? to the plate. Bailey hit a smash up the middle, but Cronin made an excellent play to stab the ball and get Bailey at first.

Frei finished the day 3-for-4 to lead the CSUB (11?11 overall) offense. Russell also went 3-for-4 for Saint Mary's (6?10).

Bakersfield will take the week off for final exams before returning to action Sunday at Big West Conference foe the University of the Pacific Sunday.