LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The CSU
Bakersfield softball team opened up the 2012 season with on Friday at the
Sportco Kickoff Classic at UNLV and lost to Kent State 11-5 and then to No. 5
Oklahoma 6-0.
After falling behind 8-0 in the first
inning against Kent State, the Roadrunners fought back, scoring two runs in the
second innings and adding three more in the third, but couldn't complete the
come back. CSUB out-hit Kent State 10-5 in the loss, with third baseman Amy Ricciardi (So., Chino Hills, Calif., Ayala HS) leading the way with a 3-for-4
game with one run scored.
Left fielder Karissa Veiga (So., Hemet,
Calif., Hemet HS) drove in two runs on one hit and designated player Taylor DeSilva also posted two RBIs on one hit, while shortstop Myshayla Fryer (So., San
Diego, Calif., University HS) had two hits and scored a run. Center fielder
Laura King (R-Jr., Camarillo, Calif., UNLV) and first baseman Sara Smith (Sr.,
Northridge, Calif., Biola Univ.) added one hit and one run apiece and catcher
Tera Macias (Sr., Los Banos, Calif., San Jose CC) chipped in one hit.
"We had a rough first inning against Kent
State," said CSUB head coach Crissy Buck. "We gave up too many walks and the
pitchers just came out pretty shaky and I think it was more nerves than
anything. Then we calmed down and what I was proud of is that we never gave up
and that is a moral victory for us. As a coach, a moral victory is absolutely
fantastic. Anyone that was there saw a team that just kept fighting, but just
came up short and ran out of outs."
After a slow start, starting pitcher
Sarah Hoag (So., Salinas, Calif., Monterey HS) settled in to shut down Kent
State from the third inning on. She gave up five earned runs on two hits and
three walks in six innings while adding two strikeouts. Marissa Hiller (So.,
Cypress, Calif., Cypress HS) pitched one inning, giving up six earned runs on
four walks and three hits.
Against No. 5 Oklahoma, CSUB gave up two
runs to the Sooners in the first and fifth innings and one in both the second
and third innings. King, Ricciardi and Smith each came up with base hits for
the 'Runners, while Veiga drew two walks. Hoag took the loss, giving up
five earned runs on eight hits with three walks and four strikeouts in a
complete-game effort. Oklahoma was led by catcher Jessica Shults' three-hit,
three-RBI performance, while pitchers Michelle Gascoigne and Kirsten Allen
combined to throw 12 strikeouts to keep CSUB at bay.
"I can't say enough about how the girls
played. Last year we got run-ruled (CSUB lost 11-2 on Feb. 10, 2011 at the
Arizona State Kajikawa Classic)," Buck said. "Sarah Hoag struck out four and that
is huge for her confidence. Out hitters made adjustments throughout the game
and our defense playing outstanding."
Buck said she was very impressed with
CSUB's defense as King ran down a line drive in center field and then doubled
up a Sooner for a double play and Veiga made a phenomenal diving catch in foul
territory with runners on base in the sixth inning.
CSUB will return to action in the Sportco
Kickoff Classic at UNLV on Saturday to face Weber State at 9 a.m. and then
conclude the tournament with two games on Sunday, one against Minnesota at
11:15 a.m. and then against the host Rebels at 3:45 p.m.
"We are taking it one day at a time and
tomorrow is new day. Hopefully we can feed off some of this positive energy,"
Buck said. "Even though they were losses, it was a moral victory and, as I
coach, I am proud of what we are building."
~www.GoRunners.com~
