SACRAMENTO, Calif. -
Senior first baseman Sara Smith (Northridge, Calif., Biola Univ.) went
3-for-4 including a two-run triple that fueled a four-run fifth inning, but the
CSU Bakersfield softball team's comeback attempt came up short as Sacramento
State rallied for a 12-4 victory in Game 2 of their doubleheader on Sunday at
Shea Stadium. The Hornets won Game 1, 7-1, and took three out of four games
from the 'Runners in the Pacific
Coast Softball Conference weekend showdown.
Sacramento State (25-17, 8-7 PCSC) jumped out to a 4-0 lead
in Game 2 before CSUB (11-37, 4-12
PCSC)got its offense going in the fifth inning with a two-out, four-run rally.
Redshirt junior center fielder Laura King (Camarillo, Calif., UNLV) and
sophomore second baseman Amy Ricciardi (Chino Hills, Calif., Ayala HS) hit
back-to-back singles before Smith crushed a triple to right center to cut Sacramento State's lead to 4-2.
Sophomore shortstop Myshayla Fryer (San Diego, Calif., University HS) then hit
an RBI single to score Smith before being plated on a double to left-center
field by freshman third baseman Adrianna Cardoza (Santa Anna, Calif., La Quinta
HS).
The lead didn't last long as the Hornets struck back with
two runs in the sixth inning to go up 6-4. Sacramento State loaded the bases in
the seventh inning and scored six more runs to cushion its lead to 12-4.
CSUB head coach Crissy Buck was proud of her team's effort
over the weekend and is excited about the future of the program.
"Over the past year, the girls have gotten stronger and have
become better softball players," Buck said. "It doesn't show up on the
scoreboard, but every game we are getting better and we are moving forward in
the right direction."
In Game 1, the 'Runners got on the board first, stringing
together four singles in the first inning, including an RBI base hit by Cardoza
(Santa Anna, Calif., La Quinta HS).
Sacramento State scored one run to tie the game in the third
inning and then another in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. The game remained
close, with sophomore pitcher Taylor DeSilva (Sunnyvale, Calif., Univ. of the
Pacific) tossing a solid game, until the five-run seventh inning when the Hornets
hit two home runs and increased their lead to 7-1.
Sophomore designated player Karissa Veiga (Hemet, Calif.,
Hemet HS) went 3-for-4 to lead CSUB's 10-hit effort. King and Cardoza each had
two hits in the game.
On Saturday, the teams split their doubleheader with
Sacramento State winning Game 1, 5-4, and CSUB taking Game 2, 4-3. Up next, the
'Runners will play their final games of the 2012 season on April 28-29 with
back-to-back PCSC doubleheaders at Santa Clara.
~www.GoRunners.com~
