BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Center fielder Laura King (R-Sr., Camarillo, Calif., UNLV) hit an RBI triple and scored a run to help the CSU Bakersfield softball team defeat Loyola Marymount 2-0 in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Sunday. The Roadrunners nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback in Game 2 by scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but they came up just shy in a 7-6 loss to finish that resulted in the two teams splitting their Pacific Coast Softball Conference series 2-2 over the weekend at Roadrunner Softball Complex.
CSUB pitcher Kelsie Monroe (Los Banos, Calif. Delta College) had a standout day for the 'Runners (5-18, 2-2 PCSC). In Game 1, she earned the complete game, shutout, two-hit victory and added three strikeouts with no walks. She also pitched the second game, giving another complete game performance. She only gave up three earned runs on nine hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
King finished the day with two triples, an RBI and two runs scored. Junior left fielder Karissa Veiga (Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) went 3-for-4 on the day with two runs scored and one RBI.
The 'Runners defense came up with some nice plays in support of Monroe's effort in the circle.
The Lions (19-16, 2-2 PCSC) got their first hit in the fourth inning, but when LMU's Megan Harman tried to stretch a single into a double freshman right fielder Sydney Raeber (Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) threw a perfect strike to gun her down at second base and end the inning.
In the fifth inning, LMU threatened with a runner on second with two outs when Olivia Alvarez hit a single and Jordan Price tried to come all the way home. Viega threw a laser straight to sophomore catcher Ashley Carter (Tehachapi, Calif., Tehachapi HS) that was waiting for Price when she tried to score to keep the Lions off the scoreboard.
The 'Runners offense finally got going in the sixth when Veiga started things off with a walk. King then hit a triple down the left field line to give CSUB a 1-0 lead. Junior shortstop Shay Fryer (San Diego, Calif., University HS) then connected for an RBI single to score King and give the 'Runners an insurance run.
In Game 2, King hit a triple to right center field and then came around to score on a throwing error to give CSUB a 1-0 lead in the third inning. The 'Runners made it 2-0 in the fifth inning when pinch hitter Kara Frankhouser (Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield College) hit a double. Carter came in as a pinch hitter for Frankhouser and scored on a double by Viega.
CSUB came undone in five-run LMU fifth inning that included a grand slam by Hannah Montalban that led to four unearned runs. The Lions added two more in the seventh inning to take a 7-2 lead into the final frame. Carter his a double and scored when Raeber followed with another double to make it 7-3. Veiga was hit by a pitch, stole second base and advanced all the way home on a Fryer RBI single. Freshman first baseman Jessica Castaneda (Bakersfield, Calif., Ridgeview HS) reached on an dropped fly ball to center field to score Fryer and cut LMU's lead to 7-5.
Freshman designated player Amber Mills (Fresno, Calif., Clovis West HS) then walked and sophomore third baseman Madison Bundy (Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Carter then grounded out to end the game.
The 'Runners will be back in action on Monday in a non-conference doubleheader with No. 24 Oregon State at Roadrunner Softball Complex beginning at noon.
~www.GoRunners.com~
