BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -Sophomore third baseman Amy Ricciardi (Chino Hills, Calif., Ayala HS) hit two home runs and senior catcher/designated player Tera Macias (Los Banos, Calif., San Jose CC) hit a homer as the CSU Bakersfield softball team exploded for 21 hits in recording 7-6 and 9-3 victories over Loyola Marymount in Pacific Coast Softball Conference play on Friday at Roadrunner Softball Complex.
"This was a really great turnaround for us. We came out ready to go today," said CSUB head coach Crissy Buck. "We had a different energy all week and we carried that over into both games today. LMU is a great team and they are going to come out swinging and ready to play tomorrow. We just have to keep on doing what we are doing, play solid and good things will happen for us."
The 'Runners (10-26, 3-3 PCSC) rallied from a 4-0 deficit in Game 1 and posted a thrilling comeback win. After Ricciardi hit her first homer of the day, a solo shot, sophomore left fielder Karissa Veiga (Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) hit an RBI triple and senior first baseman Sara Smith (Northridge, Calif., Biola Univ.) knocked a two-run double to cut the Lions' lead to 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning. In bottom of the sixth inning, freshman second baseman Adrianna Cardoza (Santa Anna, Calif., La Quinta HS) ripped a two-run double to give CSUB its first lead of the game at 6-5. Then redshirt junior center fielder Laura King (Camarillo, Calif., UNLV) added an RBI that ended up being the winning run and, despite one being walked in for LMU (24-15, 2-4 PCSC), the Roadrunners held on for the 7-6 victory.
CSUB sophomore pitcher Sarah Hoag (Salinas, Calif., Monterey HS) (5-15) was credited with the win after giving up two runs in five innings of work that included three strikeouts.
In Game 2, the 'Runners bats went on the offensive as the team totaled 13 hits. Veiga went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI, Smith went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, junior right fielder Karlee Rodgers (Clovis, Calif., Clovis West HS) went 2-for-2 with a double and three RBI and Macias hit a two-run home run, her first of the season.
CSUB sophomore pitcher Taylor DeSilva (Sunnyvale, Calif., Univ. of the Pacific) (3-3) recorded the win after entering the game in the first inning and giving up only two runs over 6.1 innings and striking out three.
The wins were the first for CSUB over LMU, last year's Coastal Division champion and the PCSC runner-up, since March 31, 2009.
The 'Runners and Lions will be back in action on Saturday for the final doubleheader of the season series. Saturday will also be CSUB softball Alumni Appreciation Day. The first game will begin at noon.
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