BAKERSFIELD, Calif. ? Through the first three innings, the CSUB and UC Davis softball teams traded seeing-eye base hits in a game that looked like one run might be the difference. But the Davis offense exploded late, scoring three times in the fourth and five times in the fifth en route to a 9-0 win Monday at the Roadrunner Softball Complex.

UCD (15-12 overall) scored what at the time seemed to be a precious run in the second inning when Marissa Araujo's two-out blooper behind second fell to score pinch runner Caitlin Low. Led by Araujo, who finished 3-for-3 with a double, home run and four RBI, the Aggies blew the game open two innings later.

The Aggie added three runs in the fourth inning, parlaying an error and four ground ball singles into a big cushion for Hancock. In the fifth, however, Davis began to hit the ball with authority. Erin Emde roped a double off the fence in the leftfield corner to drive home one run. Araujo closed out the scoring with a laser that curled inside the left field pole for her second home run of the season.

For her part, CSUB junior pitcher Shawna Truan matched Davis ace Jessica Hancock pitch-for-pitch early. Hancock gave up seven base runners on six hits and an error through the first three innings, but the Roadrunners couldn't get the critical hit they needed to score.

Junior catcher Jaimey Kleinsmith led the CSUB offense with two hits Monday. Junior shortstop Heather Veitch came up with a clutch two-out hit, but pinch runner Chelsey Bell was thrown out trying to tie the game in the second inning.

CSUB concludes its longest homestand of the season Wednesday when it hosts another former CCAA rival, UC Riverside, for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Hancock, Homes (5) and Miller; Truan, Johnson (5) and Kleinsmith. WP ? Jessica Hancock (10-6). LP ? Shawna Truan (6-3).
2B ? Araujo (D), Emde (D). HR ? Araujo (D).