LAS
VEGAS, Nev. - The CSUB softball team picked up its first win of 2010 by
defeating Kent State 9-4 before falling in a thriller to former Division II
rival UC Davis 8-7 to cap the second day of action at the Sportco Kickoff
Classic hosted by UNLV.
CSUB
(1-3 overall) got another solid pitching performance from sophomore Sammy Rodriguez,
who earned her first collegiate win in only her second start. She went the
distance while fanning seven against the defending Mid American Conference east
champions from Kent State.
Kent
State jumped on top with two runs in the top of the first inning, but the
'Runners responded with a fury. CSUB scored twice in each of the first two
innings before putting the game away with three more runs in the third. Senior Danielle Lyman and
freshman Karlee Rodgers delivered RBI doubles to highlight the deluge.
In
the nightcap, CSUB used a four-run second to race to an early lead against UC
Davis, but the Aggies rallied by scoring in six of their seven at bats to come
from behind for the win. Davis tied the game at 4-4 in the fourth inning before
senior Kelli Bailey restored the Roadrunner lead by leading off the fifth with her
first home run of the season.
Davis
scrapped to tie it in the bottom of the fifth before catcher Rachel Miller
delivered what looked like the decisive blow with a two-run homer in the sixth
inning. The Aggies seemed to have the game wrapped up when CSUB turned the
tables in the top of the seventh. Bailey reached on a two-out error in front of
Ryane Petersen,
who launched a game-tying homer.
But
the 'Runner defense gave it right back in the bottom of the seventh, committing
two errors to allow cleanup hitter Sarah Axelson another at bat. Axelson capped
a 5-for-5 performance with a single through the right side for the game-winning
run.
Five
different 'Runners hit safely in both games, including Lyman, who had two hits
in each game. Bailey, Peterson and Kristen Archuleta each drove in three runs
Saturday while freshman Emily Bliss scored three runs in the win over Kent State.
CSUB
concludes play at the Sportco Classic against 2009 NCAA Tournament qualifier
Long Beach State at 2 p.m.
