BAKERSFIELD, Calif.--The Bakersfield softball team opens the 2014 season this week with a home doubleheader Friday against Pittsburgh before traveling to the UC Santa Barbara Tournament. Friday's doubleheader gets underway at 12 p.m.
This is the first time Bakersfield and Pittsburgh are playing softball against one another. The Panthers are beginning their first season in the ACC after going 19-29 and tying for ninth in the Big East last season. Sophomore Tori Nirschl was named the 2013 Big East Rookie of the Year after leading Pitt in hitting (.333), hits (52), runs (35), walks (20), slugging percentage (.635), and on-base percentage (.417).
The Roadrunners open the UC Santa Barbara Tournament Saturday at 9 a.m. against Dayton before facing No. 11 Texas A&M at 11 a.m. Sunday gets underway with a second game against Dayton at 11 a.m. before facing the host Gauchos at 1 p.m.
This is the first time Bakersfield and Dayton will be playing softball against each other. The Flyers were sixth in the Atlantic 10 last season as Dayton posted a 12-9 league record. The Flyers were 22-24 overall. Three Dayton players, Kayla English (P), Tiffany Ricks (INF), and Kasi Vasquez (P) were second team preseason all A-10 by CollegeSportsMadness.
Texas A&M defeated the Roadrunners 7-1 last season in the only meeting between the two teams. The Aggies are ranked 11th in the preseason NFCA Top 25. Texas A&M are coming off a 2013 campaign in which the Aggies went 42-18 and advancing to the Super Regional for the fifth time before losing to eventual national champion Oklahoma. Sophomore Cali Lanphear was selected preseason All-Southern Eastern Conference and was named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch.
The Roadrunners and the Guachos are playing for the 29th time with UC Santa Barbara leading the all-time series 19-9. The teams will meet twice more next week during the Fresno State Tournament in Fresno. The Gauchos tied for fourth in the Big West Conference last season with a 12-12 league record. UCSB posted a 31-24 overall record with five players earning All-Conference honors.
Entering the 2014 season, here is a look at the Roadrunners by position;
PITCHERS: The Roadrunners return both pitchers from a year ago. Junior Kelsie Monroe, an honorable mention All-PCSC selection, went 11-18 in 39 appearances with a 3.76 ERA. She led the team in strikeouts (113) and innings pitched (186.1). She posted 16 complete games.
Sophomore Amber Mills was selected second team All-PCSC as a utility player. Mills, the 'Runners No. 2 hurler, went 4-15 with a 3.97 ERA in 29 appearances. In 109.1 innings, Mills had one save and struck out 38. When she didn't pitch, Mills played the outfield, charting 12 hits with four runs and three RBIs.
Freshman Lyndsay Klimenko should also see time in the circle. Klimenko was chosen first team All-League, first team All-County, team MVP, and as the starting pitcher for the All-Daily Journal Team in San Mateo County as a senior for Half Moon Bay High School. She hit .382 and pitched 198 innings during senior season and will likely see time in the field when she is not pitching for the Roadrunners.
CATCHER: Junior Ashley Carter started 42-of-43 appearances as the Roadrunner catcher a year ago. She led the team in walks (12) and was second on team in putouts (168).
Senior Kara Frankhouser and sophomore Makenzie Zinger could also see action behind the plate.
INFIELD: Senior shortstop Shay Fryer anchors the 'Runner infield. Fryer was named first team All-PCSC a year ago. She posted a .351 batting average, 12 RBIs, nine runs scored, seven doubles and one home run with a .486 slugging percentage in PCSC play. Overall, Fryer hit .326 with 18 runs scored. Fryer led Bakersfield in RBI's (21), doubles (10), home runs (2 with Jessica Castaneda) and slugging percentage (.439).
Senior Amy Ricciardi and junior Adrianna Cardoza return the right side of the infield. Ricciardi has played four infield positions in her career at CSUB, settling in at first base last season. Cardoza was the PCSC Freshman of the Year two years ago before suffering from the sophomore slump in 2013. Both will look to improve at the plate after both batted under .200 last season.
Junior Madison Bundy started 44-of-45 appearances for the 'Runners after transferring into Bakersfield from Oregon State a year ago.
OUTFIELD: Senior Karissa Veiga was named first team All-PCSC after leading the league in batting average (.408) and on-base percentage (.500) in 2013. Overall on the season, Veiga posted a .326 batting average with a team high 18 runs scored, while also adding seven doubles, two triples, seven RBIs, 11 walks, a .403 slugging percentage and a .409 on-base percentage.
