ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Sophomore shortstop Myshayla Fryer San Diego, Calif., University HS) broke open a tie game against North Dakota with a two-run single through the left side in the fifth inning to help lift the CSU Bakersfield  softball team to a 3-1 win in the final game of the University of New Mexico Invitational on Sunday.

With the win, CSUB finished the tournament with a 1-4 mark and gets even after falling to the Fighting Souix 15-1 on Friday.

"We got better every game as the tournament progressed," said CSU head coach Crissy Buck. "Over the weekend we really talked about and focused on clutch hitting and they started coming against Utah and New Mexico and then today Shay came up really big."

CSUB starting pitcher Marissa Hiller (So., Cypress, Calif., Cypress HS) had one of her best performances of the year, throwing two scoreless innings to start the game and added another scoreless frame in the seventh to record the save. Taylor DeSilva (So., Sunnyvale, Calif., Univ. of the Pacific) threw scoreless innings in the third and fourth before being relieved by Sarah Hoag (So., Salinas, Calif., Monterey HS), who pitched the fifth inning when the Fighting Souix (6-10) tied the game up at one before CSUB (4-12) reclaimed the lead, and sixth. Hoag was credited with the win, her third of the season.

The 'Runners scored first, when center fielder Laura King (R-Jr., Camarillo, Calif., UNLV) hit an RBI single to score designated player Emily Bliss (R-Jr., Northridge, Calif., Chaminde Prep) as CSUB went up 1-0 in the fourth inning.

In the fifth inning, CSUB third baseman Amy Ricciardi (So., Chino Hills, Calif., Ayala HS) reached after being hit by a pitch. Ashley Nahale (Sr., Fremont, Calif., Ohlone College) pinch hit for Ricciardi and was moved to third on a single by first baseman Sara Smith (Sr., Northridge, Calif., Biola Univ.) and Smith moved to second on the throw. That's when Fryer hit the eventual game-winning RBI single. 

Fryer, Bliss and sophomore left fielder Karissa Veiga (Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) all finished the game with two hits to lead the 'Runners.

The 'Runners will return to action on Friday and Saturday in the Cal State Northridge Classic where they will play two games against Maine and one against Harvard.

~www.GoRunners.com~