BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? The CSUB softball team got off to fast starts in both ends of Saturday's doubleheader with visiting North Dakota and rode those efforts to an 8-3, 5-1 sweep of the Fighting Sioux at the Roadrunner Softball Complex.

CSUB (15-10 overall) scored five runs in the first two innings of the opener than scored four times in the first two innings of the nightcap. Junior pitcher Katie Chavez thwarted a North Dakota rally by striking out four in two perfect innings of relief to save the opener. Fellow junior Shawna Truan then scattered five hits and matched her career high with seven strikeouts to finish the sweep.

Freshman centerfielder Jill McClelland led the offense with five hits and four stolen bases. Senior outfielder Nette Puente added two runs and two hits in the opener, including her first career triple. Ironically, it was CSUB's first team triple of 2009.

Nicole Puerling led North Dakota (1-10) by going 4-for-6 Saturday, including a 3-for-3 effort in game one and her first home run of the season in game two.

The Roadrunners jumped on top in the opener when Jaimey Kleinsmith singled in one run and later scored on an error in the first inning. Justeen Maeva's two-run double capped a three-run second inning that put CSUB in control.

The Fighting Sioux battled back to within 5-3 by scoring single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. But after starting pitcher Brittany Johnson allowed a home run to Kristi Alcorn leading off the sixth, Chavez slammed the door. She threw 21 strikes in 28 pitches, fanning Hannah-Rose Peters and Erica Younan swinging to end the game.

Truan had little trouble in the nightcap. Other than the home run by Puerling leading off the fifth, she allowed just two runners as far as second base while earning her fifth win of the season.

One statistical oddity for CSUB occurred when Younan hit three Roadrunner batters in the second game. That tied the CSUB record set three times previously, last against Chico State on Feb. 25, 2006.

CSUB and North Dakota will finish their four-game series with a doubleheader Sunday at the Roadrunner Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for noon.

Peters and Bennett; Johnson, Chavez (6) and Kleinsmith. WP ? Brittany Johnson (7-5). LP ? Hannah-Rose Peters (0-4). Sv ? Katie Chavez (1).
2B ? Maeva (B), Puerling (ND). 3B ? Puente (B). HR ? Alcorn (ND).

Younan and Bennett; Truan and Muro. WP ? Shawna Truan (5-1). LP ? Erica Younan (1-3).
2B ? Rehberger (ND). HR ? Puerling (ND).