SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Freshman designated Mackenzie Zinger Visalia, Calif., Redwood HS) hit an RBI single in the top of the seventh inning and sophomore catcher Ashley Carter (Tehachapi, Calif., Tehachapi HS) added an RBI double that provided an insurance run the 'Runners would later need as the CSU Bakersfield softball team rallied back for an exciting 3-2 victory over San Diego on Sunday. After falling 5-0 in the first game of the doubleheader, the 'Runners came back to get Game 2 and tie the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Series.
Sophomore pitcher Kelsie Monroe (Los Banos, Calif., Delta College) was solid in getting her 10th win of the season. She gave up two earned runs in seven innings on seven hits with one walk and seven strikeouts for CSUB (13-25, 8-8 PCSC).
In the seventh inning, sophomore third baseman Madison Bundy (Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) led off with a single and junior first baseman Amy Ricciardi (Chino Hills, Calif., Ayala HS) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Bundy to second. Then Zinger hit a single to right field to score pitch-running sophomore Nicole Sanchez (Bakersfield, Calif., Frontier HS). Carter then crushed a double to score pinch runner Jazmine Irvin (Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield College) to put CSUB up 3-2.
The Toreros (19-21, 4-8 PCSC) came back in the bottom of the frame to score one run and had a runner at third base before Monroe struck out the final batter to seal the win.
In Game 2, after San Diego took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning, the 'Runners rallied back to tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth when junior left fielder Karissa Veiga (Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) led off with a triple and then came around to score on an RBI single by junior shortstop Shay Fryer (San Diego, Calif., University HS) to make it 1-1.
The Toreros and Roadrunners split their doubleheader on Saturday with San Diego winning the first game 3-2 and CSUB taking the second 2-0.
In Game 1, the 'Runners were hurt by five fielding errors in the game and were out-hit 12-4. The Toreros scored two runs in the third, two more in the fifth and another in the sixth on their way to the win. Veiga (Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) led the offense for CSUB by going 2-for-3 with a double. Redshirt senior center fielder Laura King (Camarillo, Calif., UNLV) and Carter each added singles.
The 'Runners will now have a quick turn around as they will host No. 20 Hawaii on Tuesday at the Roadrunner Softball Complex in nonconference action at 1 p.m. Hawaii will be the seventh top-25 opponent the 'Runners have faced this season. CSUB is 1-5 against ranked opponents this season entering the game, having upset Oregon State 10-7 on March 25.
After taking on Hawaii, CSUB will return to PCSC play to host Saint Mary's in doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday in its final home stand of the season.
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