SAN DIEGO, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield freshman pitcher Amber Mills (Fresno, Calif., Clovis West HS) tossed a two-hit shutout to lead the Roadrunner softball team to a 2-0 Pacific Coast Softball Conference victory over the University of San Diego on Saturday to help CSUB split the doubleheader with the Toreros. CSUB lost the first game 3-2.
Mills pitched a no-hitter through five innings before it was broken up in the fifth inning when San Diego's Morgan Kurtz hit an infield single. She only walked one in the game and struck out seven in picking up her third win of the season.
In Game 2, the 'Runners (12-24, 7-7 PCSC) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when junior shortstop Shay Fryer (San Diego, Calif., University HS) led off with a single and then was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore third baseman Madison Bundy (Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State). Junior first baseman Amy Ricciardi (Chino Hills, Calif., Ayala HS) then hit an RBI single to plate Fryer. Mills then hit a double, but was left on base with Ricciardi.
CSUB added to its lead in the fifth when sophomore second baseman Adrianna Cardoza (Santa Anna, Calif., La Quinta HS) led off with a double, her third two-baser of the day, and came around to score on a single by King to put the 'Runners up 2-0.
With Mills in the midst of a solid performance on the mound, the two hits were enough to lift the 'Runners to the win and avenge the 3-2 loss in Game 1.
In Game 1, CSUB jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning when junior first baseman Ricciardi led off with a single and freshman right fielder Sydney Raeber (Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) followed with a double to put runners at second and third with no outs. Sophomore catcher Ashley Carter then drew a walk, after battling through an 11-pitch at bat, to load the bases. Using her speed as a slap hitter, junior left fielder Karissa Veiga (Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) reached on an infield single, advancing all the runners and scoring Ricciardi. Redshirt senior center fielder Laura King (Camarillo, Calif., UNLV) then drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Raeber before USD got out of the inning.
The Toreros (18-20, 3-7 PCSC) got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Carly Swanberg hit an RBI single to cut CSUB's lead in half at 2-1. San Diego took a 3-2 lead in next inning when Caitlin Rooney hit an RBI single to make it 2-all and then the Toreros got a fielder's choice with the bases loaded to score the go-ahead run.
CSUB tried to battle back in the top of the sixth when Cardoza led off the top of the sixth with a double, her second of the game. The 'Runners loaded the bases with one out, but couldn't bring anyone home. That was the tale of the tape for CSUB, which left 13 runners on base in the game.
Cardoza went 2-for-4 with two doubles and Ricciardi also went 2-for-4 in addition to scoring a run.
CSUB will be back in action with another doubleheader against the Toreros on Sunday to complete to PCSC series.
~www.GoRunners.com~
