BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - In its final home games of the 2012, the CSU Bakersfield softball team fell to Saint Mary's by scores of 7-0 and 12-3 in a doubleheader on Sunday in Pacific Coast Softball Conference action, leading to a Gael four-game sweep of the season series.
On Sunday, the 'Runners (10-34, 3-9 PCSCS) were outhit by Saint Mary's 25-10. Sophomore infielder Amy Ricciardi (Chino Hills, Calif., Ayala HS) blasted a three-run homer in the fifth inning of Game 2 to tie the game at 3-all, but CSUB couldn't manage any other runs after the fifth.
In Game 1, Gael pitcher Jessica Lemmon shutout the Roadrunners in a three-hit, complete-game effort. Sophomore left fielder Karissa Veiga (Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) got two of the hits, while freshman catcher Ashley Carter (Tehachapi, Calif., Tehachapi HS) added the other. Freshman Adrianna Cardoza (Santa Anna, Calif., La Quinta HS), the regular starting second baseman for the 'Runners, made her first start in the circle for CSUB, but gave up home runs to Brittany and Rebecca Sabatini as Saint Mary's (19-20, 8-3 PCSC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back.
With sophomore pitcher Sarah Hoag (Salinas, Calif., Monterey HS) sidelined with an arm injury, sophomore Taylor DeSilva (Sunnyvale, Calif., Univ. of Pacific) threw 189 pitchers over nine innings on the day, four of which were scoreless.
Ricciardi's homer tied Game 2 at 3 apiece in the fifth inning, but the 'Runners were unable to score again. Saint Mary's came up with some clutch hitting in the fifth and sixth innings in totaling nine runs in the frames for the win. The Gaels two homers from Brittany Sabatini, one from Megan Smith and another from Kayla Gonzales, which was a three-run shot to make it 12-3 and end the game in the sixth innings.
Ricciardi had two hits in the game, while redshirt junior center fielder Laura King (Camarillo, Calif., UNLV) and Veiga each added one hit and one run scored. Cardoza hit a double and senior first baseman Sara Smith (Northridge, Calif., Biola Univ.) and sophomore shortstop Myshayla Fryer (San Diego, Calif., University HS) each added singles.
Before the start of Game 2, CSUB's three seniors, Smith, catcher/designated player Tera Macias (Los Banos, Calif., San Jose CC) and utility player Ashley Nahale (Fremont, Calif., Ohlone College) were honored for their leadership and dedication to the program.
The 'Runners will be back in action with another pair of PCSC doubleheaders on Apr. 20-21 when they head north to take on Coastal Division rival Sacramento State.
~www.GoRunners.com~
