RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Bakersfield competed in two games on the final day of the Amy S. Harrison Tournament hosted by UC Riverside. CSUB lost both games 1-0.

Game one pitted Bakersfield against Loyola Marymount in a rematch of Friday's game which the Lions won 4-12 in nine innings. Sunday would be different, however, as the 'Runners got themselves into a pitchers' duel.

The Lions' starting pitcher, Sydney Gouveia, started out the game strong, retiring 12 out of the first 13 Roadrunners she faced and taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning. Bakersfield's starter, Kelsie Monroe (Jr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College), answered right back by allowing only a single in the first three innings while striking out four of the Lions' first 10 batters.

Monroe got into a jam in the bottom of the fourth after a leadoff walk, a single, and an error loaded the bases for LMU with only one out. The Bakersfield defense had Monroe's back and gunned down a runner at home on a ground ball for the second out and finished the Lions off with another grounder to end the threat and leave the bases loaded.

The 'Runners loaded the bases themselves in the top of the fifth thanks to two walks and a single which broke up the no-hitter. With two outs, Gouveia induced a ground out that ended the trouble for LMU and send the Lions to bat in the bottom of the sixth.

With only one out, LMU had the bases loaded and scored the first run of the game off of a sacrifice fly to left field. Monroe limited the dmaage to just that run by getting a pop up to end the inning.

Gouveia finished the job by striking out the side in the top of the seventh and completing her one-hitter.

In the afternoon game, the 'Runners fell to the host team, UC Riverside, again by a score of 1-0.

Bakersfield missed a chance to score as a Karissa Veiga (Sr., Hemet Calif., Hemet HS) single brought Sydney Raeber (So., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) from second base around third, but the UCR left fielder gunned her down at the plate. The third inning disappointment would be duplicated in the fourth as Madison Bundy (Jr., Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) was also cut down at home on a relay from center to short to home.

UC Riverside got the eventual winning run in the bottom half of the fourth inning. After a leadoff double by Natalie Sanchez, Marissa Escalante would eventually single home Sanchez's pinch runner for a 1-0 lead.

Bakersfield threatened in the sixth inning when Amy Ricciardi (Sr., Chino Hills, Calif., Ayala HS) doubled to left center for her second hit of the game. Back-to-back line outs would bring up Jessica Castaneda (So., Bakersfield, Calif., Ridgeview HS) who hit a home run on Saturday and was two for two against UCR. The Highlanders wisely pitched around Castaneda with an intentional walk and induced a groundout to end the threat.

Karissa Veiga (Sr., Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) would record her second hit of the day on a two-out single in the seventh. The Bakersfield rally ended on the next at bat after UCR got a groundout to end the inning and the game for a 1-0 win.

Kelsie Monroe started both games for the 'Runners on Sunday and finished the day with a line of 9.2 innings pitched, nine hits, two earned runs, and seven strikeouts in two solid performances.

Bakersfield will return to the diamond next weekend as the team heads to the University of the Pacific Libby Matson Tournament in Stockton. The 'Runners will play five games in three days including doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.

~www.GoRunners.com~