RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The CSU Bakersfield softball team lost two close games in heartbreaking fashion to UC Riverside on Wednesday, falling 4-3 in extra innings in Game 1 and then dropping Game 2, 2-1, when the Highlanders won the game in the bottom of the seventh.

The 'Runners (7-23) held leads over UC Riverside (17-15) in both games, but couldn't hold on.

In Game 1, CSUB junior left fielder Karlee Rodgers (Clovis, Calif., Clovis West HS) hit a solo home run to left field, her first of the season and second of her CSUB career, to put CSUB up 2-1 in the fourth inning. The lead didn't last very long as the Highlanders struck back with two runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-2 lead.

The 'Runners tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth inning when sophomore pitcher Taylor DeSilva (Sunnyvale, Calif., Univ. of the Pacific) smacked a double and came around to score when senior Tera Macias (Los Banos, Calif., San Jose CC) reached base on an error. The run sent the game to extra innings, where, playing with international tiebreaker rules that places a runner on second base to start each inning, UC Riverside scored a run on a wild pitch to win 4-3.

Sophomore third baseman Amy Ricciardi (Chino Hills, Calif., Ayala HS) added an RBI single in Game 1.

In Game 2, the 'Runners jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first when center fielder Laura King (R-Jr., Camarillo, Calif., UNLV) hit a single and came around to score on a triple by sophomore shortsop Myshayla Fryer (San Diego, Calif., University HS). The CSUB offense was held scoreless for the remainder of the game by Highlander pitcher Taylor Alvarez, who held CSUB to five hits in the contest.

The 'Runners' lead held until the fifth inning when UC Riverside tied it up at 1-1. Just when it looked like extra innings again, UC Riverside took advantage of a CSUB error and then got a single and an intentional walk to load the bases. Alexis Pickett then hit a single to right field to drive in the winning run and complete the UC Riverside sweep.

King went 3-for-4 in the game to lead CSUB. Sophomore pitcher Sarah Hoag (Salinas, Calif., Monterey HS) took the loss for CSUB, giving up one earned run on nine hits with one strikeout and one walk in a complete game effort.

Wednesday's games were the final non-league contests for the 'Runners, as they will now begin Pacific Coast Softball Conference play with back-to-back doubleheaders against the University of San Diego on Saturday and Sunday at Roadrunner Softball Complex. First pitch is slated for noon both days.

~www.GoRunners.com~