TEMPE, Ariz. ? The CSUB softball team began its run against a season-opening gauntlet of nationally-ranked opponents Friday, falling to No. 23 Nevada 9-3 and No. 9 Northwestern 7-0 on the first day of the Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State.

The Roadrunners fell behind the Wolfpack early in their first game, as shortstop Danielle Patrick's leadoff homerun in the third inning began a string of seven unanswered runs in the third and fourth innings.

Jaimey Kleinsmith's RBI single in the bottom of the fourth plated the first CSUB run of the season. In the sixth, a run-scoring grounder by Justeen Maeva and another Kleinsmith RBI single cut the deficit to 7-3, but Nevada tacked on a pair of runs in the seventh to thwart the comeback.

Against national title contender Northwestern, the Roadrunners threatened to jump on top early. Singles by Kelli Bailey and Missy Finlay and a walk to Nette Puente loaded the bases with one out in the third inning of a scoreless game. But Wildcat ace Lauren Delaney slammed the door, getting Chelsey Bell and Maeva to ground out to end the threat.

Northwestern then stormed ahead in its next two at bats, taking advantage of two costly Roadrunner errors to score six unearned runs and spoil an otherwise solid outing by Katie Chavez.

Bailey and Maeva were the only Roadrunners to hit safely in both games Friday, each finishing the day 2-for-6.

CSUB continues play on day two of the Kajikawa Classic. The Roadrunners will play defending national champions Arizona State at 5:30 p.m. before taking on Penn State at 7:30 p.m.

 
Darby and Micka; Johnson, Truan (7) and Kleinsmith. WP ? Darby (1-0). LP ? Johnson (0-).
2B ? Silgyi (N), Starr (N), Hunt (N). HR ? Murdock (N).

Chavez and Kleinsmith; Delaney, K. Dyer (5) and K. Dyer, E. Dyer (5). WP ? Delany (1-0). LP ? Chavez (0-1). Sv ? K. Dyer (1).
2B ? E. Dyer (N), Haug (N).