BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The CSUB women's swim team got off to a flying start in its first home meet of the season, posting some solid early season times in a double dual meet split with Pacific and UC Santa Cruz Saturday at the Hillman Aquatics Center.

CSUB defeated Santa Cruz 187-100 and fell to UOP 165-115.

The Roadrunners got seven event wins, with junior Rachel McCall (Calgary, Alberta) taking two firsts and senior Stephanie Donnelly (Halifax, Nova Scotia) taking one between the lane lines. Sophomore diver Jordan Reed (Liberty HS) added first place finishes on the one and three meter boards.

"Rachel and Steph swam well, but we had more people swim well and won more events that we ever have against them (Pacific)," says CSUB Head Coach Pat Skehan.

"We had some great early season times, but this was about trying to race Pacific better than we had going through the transition to Division I. Now that we're in the same conference (MPSF), this was a good test for us and we did very well."

Donnelly gave CSUB its first win of the afternoon, beating Jeanette Dive of UCSC by a full second in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:00.47. McCall followed that with her first win of the day, just out-touching UOP's Mallory McGowan by 0.49 seconds to win the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.12.

McCall came back to win another close race in the 100 free, this time beating UOP's Mary-Ella Randall by 0.52 while swimming a 52.46.

The Roadrunners saved their best for last however, coming from behind to win the 400 free relay at the wire in 3:36.17 to Pacific's 3:37.92. McCall swam a strong anchor leg to lead the comeback, touching the wall in 51.78.

With the 'Runners now an active NCAA Division I member and back in a strong west coast based conference, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow-conference and NCAA Championship eligibility-is already having an impact of the CSUB swim program.

"All of our summer work is really paying off," says Skehan. "Having a legitimate conference championship to swim for and a chance to go to nationals makes a big difference."

The 'Runners will get a second consecutive shot at the Tigers when they travel to Stockton to face UOP, fellow MPSF newcomer Seattle University and Loyola Marymount Nov. 6.