FRESNO, Calif. - The CSU Bakersfield softball team suffered a heartbreaking loss on Wednesday night after letting a 2-1 lead slip out of it grip when the Bulldogs scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to come away with a 3-2 victory over the 'Runners.

CSUB junior pitcher Kelsie Monroe (Los Banos, Calif., Delta College) had a solid outing on the mound for the 'Runners (1-8) scattering five hits and one run through the first six innings before the Bulldogs (7-6) sandwiched a triple in between two singles in the seventh inning, including one off of the bat of second baseman Brooke Ortiz to drive in the winning run.

After three scoreless innings, CSUB jumped out to a 1-0 after freshman designated player Jessica Castaneda (Bakersfield, Calif., Ridgeview HS) singled and freshman Amber Mills (Fresno, Calif., Clovis West HS) doubled to score pitch runner Taylor DeSilva (Jr., Sunnyvale, Calif., University of the Pacific). In the sixth inning, the 'Runners took a 2-1 lead when sophomore third baseman Madison Bundy (Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) scored on an RBI single by freshman right fielder Sydney Raeber.

The 'Runners outhit the Bulldogs in the game with a season-high 10 hits compared to Fresno State's eight. Raeber, Mills, Castaneda and junior left fieder Karissa Veiga (Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) all posted two-hit nights for CSUB.

CSUB will play the Bulldogs again on April 10 at Roadrunner Softball Complex at 1 p.m. to complete the home-and-home season series.

Up first, CSUB will have the weekend off to prepare for their final tournament of the season, the Easton Tournament, hosted by Cal State Fullerton March 2-3. The 'Runners will face Iowa, Wisconsin, Northwestern and Oregon State in the tournament.

~www.GoRunners.com~