BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield junior shortstop Shay Fryer (San Diego, Calif., University HS) totaled five RBIs, two runs scored and six hits, including a home run and a double, to help propel the Roadrunner softball team to a Pacific Coast Softball Conference doubleheader sweep over Santa Clara on Saturday at Roadrunner Softball Complex. Fryer hit a two-run homer in Game 1 to lift CSUB to a 3-1 win and then hit a two-run double in Game 2 to help carry CSUB to a 5-4 victory.
The 'Runners (9-22) have now won three games in a row and improved their PCSC record to 5-5.
“It is great to get these two wins. This is our first time this season getting back-to-back wins,” said second-year CSUB head coach Crissy Buck. “I think we are still in it for the conference championship. From here on out, we have to look to sweep in every conference series that we have.”
The 'Runners will finish the series with Santa Clara (5-29, 2-4 PCSC) on Sunday with another doubleheader, beginning at noon. CSUB still has PCSC series with San Diego, St. Mary's and BYU remaining on the schedule.
On Saturday, CSUB redshirt senior center fielder Laura King (Camarillo, Calif., UNLV) had a hit in each game to extend her hitting streak to 10 games as she continues to shine after returning from a broken leg that sidelined her for most of the first half of the season. She finished the day going 2-for-6 with two runs scored. Fryer went 6-for-7 and junior left fielder Karissa Veiga (Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) went 4-for-6 with two runs scored and one RBI in the doubleheader.
In Game 1, CSUB starter Kelsie Monroe (So., Los Banos, Calif., Delta College) gave up a solo home run to the first batter of the game, Stephanie Fisher, but settled in to throw a gem after that. She tossed six scoreless innings after the first to record her seventh win of the year. She gave up one run on five hits with on walk and five strikeouts in the complete-game effort.
The 'Runners tied it up in the bottom of the third when King hit a single, stole second and then scored on a fielder's choice by freshman designated player Jessica Castaneda (Bakersfield, Calif,, Ridgeview HS). In the fifth inning, Fryer crushed a two-run homer to center field to score to put CSUB up 3-1.
In game two, Fryer hit a 2-run double in the third. To give CSUB a 2-1 lead.
Game 2 featured a back-and-forth battle with eight lead changes. Santa Clara once again jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Fryer put CSUB back on top when she hit a two-run double to center field to score King and Veiga to put CSUB up 2-1.
Santa Clara tied the game at 2-all in the top of the fourth before Veiga regained CSUB's lead with an RBI double in the bottom of the fame to put the 'Runners up 3-2. The Broncos once again tied the game up in the top of the fifth before the 'Runners once again rallied back to recapture the lead in the bottom of the inning when sophomore third baseman Madison Bundy (Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) hit an RBI single up the middle to put CSUB up 4-3.
Santa Clara tied up the game again in the sixth, but the 'Runners kept on fighting and tied it again in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore second baseman Adrianna Cardoza (Santa Anna, Calif., La Quinta HS) led off with a double, was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Veiga and came home on an RBI single by Fryer.
In the top of the seventh, CSUB starter Amber Mills (Fr., Fresno, Calif., Clovis West HS) tossed a 1-2-3 inning capped of with a strikeout to earn her second straight win. Mills gave up three earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and no walks in the complete-game victory.
“I think Santa Clara did a great job of battling with us today and we did a great job of battling with Santa Clara,” Buck said. “It was a great day of softball today. It was very fun to be a part of, I think on both sides, even though there is a winner and loser. They were great games no matter how you look at it. No we have to come back tomorrow and have some more offense.”
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