BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Jessica Castaneda (Fr., Bakersfield, Calif., Ridgeview HS) and Madison Bundy (Anacortes, Wash., both hit home runs in the first inning to lead the CSU Bakersfield softball team to a 6-2 win over Loyola Marymount to open up Pacific Coast Softball Conference play on Saturday at Roadrunner Softball Complex. The two 'Runners, who are in their first seasons with CSUB, had a hand in all six of CSUB's runs in the win.
In game two of the doubleheader with the Lions, CSUB lost 7-0 to finish with a split on the day. CSUB (4-17, 1-1 PSCS) and LMU (15-18, 1-1 PCSC) will complete their PCSC series on Sunday with another doubleheader beginning at noon.
Castaneda, the designated player, went 2-for-2 with three RBIs, two runs scored and a walk in game one, while Bundy, the third baseman, went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and one run scored. The homers were the first of the season and the first as 'Runners for Castaneda and Bundy.
In the third inning, Castaneda doubled down the left field line and came around to score on a double by Bundy to put CSUB up 6-0.
Kelsie Monroe got the start in the circle and struck out five in the first two innings. She went on to ring up nine Lions in the complete-game victory where she gave up two runs on six hits with three walks. Monroe's only mistake came in the fourth inning when she gave up a two-run homer to Olivia Alvarez.
Junior left fielder Karissa Veiga (Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) went 2-for-3 in the game with one runs scored, while junior shortstop Shay Fryer (San Diego, Calif., University HS) went 2-for-4 2ith one run scored.
In game two, the 'Runners were limited to three hits my LMU starter Sydney Gouveia, who finished her ninth win of the season with 12 strikeouts. Offensively, the Lions scored one run in the third inning, then added two in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings for the win.
Viega, Fryer, and redshirt senior center fielder Laura King (Camarillo, Calif., UNLV), making her first appearances since breaking her leg in the opening weekend of the season, each hit singles in the game.
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