BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- Bakersfield softball returned home with a doubleheader against Utah State. The 'Runners defeated the Aggies in both games.

Game 1

Bakersfield won the first game against Utah State in style by a score of 3-2.

Utah State led off the top of the second with a home run over the left field wall by Sydney Hart to take a 1-0 lead. Bakersfield's starter, Kelsie Monroe (Jr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) rebounded well with three consecutive outs. Amy Ricciardi (Sr., Chino Hills, Calif., Ayala HS) led off the bottom of the second with a single. The senior would move to third after two consecutive sacrifice bunts, but Bakersfield could not score Ricciardi, stranding her at third.

The Aggies tacked on another run in the third and would have made the score 3-0, but an obstruction call on the runner at first base ended the bases-loaded threat with the 'Runners trailing 2-0. After that, Monroe shut the Aggies down, allowing only one base runner to reach safely in the last four innings. The 'Runners entered the bottom of the seventh inning with their last chance to score and would not disappoint.

Sydney Raeber (So., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) led off the inning with a single and was quickly moved to second after Jessica Castaneda (So., Bakersfield, Calif., Ridgeview HS) walked on four straight balls. Ashley Carter (Jr., Tehachapi, Calif., Tehachapi HS) blooped a single down the left field line to score the first run of the game for Bakersfield, making the score 2-1. With the bases loaded and two outs, Head Coach Crissy Buck-Ziegler opted to bring in Makenzie Zinger (So., Visalia, Calif., Redwood HS) to pinch hit.

Zinger delivered with an RBI walk to tie the score at two runs apiece. With all of the momentum in Bakersfield's favor, freshman Kayli Shaw (Rocklin, Calif., Whitney HS) came to the plate and ended the game with a walk-off single up the middle.

Monroe finished the game with a line of 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, and 5 K. Castaneda and Ricciardi both added two hits while the former reached base safely in all four at bats.   

Game 2

Bakersfield held on to the second game for a 4-3 win over the Aggies.

The 'Runners took an early 2-0 lead thanks to a double from Madison Bundy (Jr., Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) in the bottom half of the first that plated Veiga and Amber Mills (So., Fresno, Calif., Clovis West HS). Bakersfield would only have one base runner in the next three innings as the Aggies' pitcher, Mariah Peterson, pitched effectively.

Utah State answered with two runs of its own in the top of the fourth inning. Two singles and a double to start off the inning led to the score being 2-1. Coach Buck went to the bullpen and brought Monroe to relieve freshman Lyndsay Klimenko (Half Moon Bay, Calif., Half Moon Bay HS). Monroe struggled initially, giving up a run off of a wild pitch, but managed to limit the damage and keep a 2-2 tie.

In the bottom of the fifth, the 'Runners doubled their score thanks to four hits, one walk, and an error. Karsyn Guzman (Fr., Hanford, Calif. , Hanford HS) came around to score after a mishandled attempt to catch Veiga stealing ended up in the outfield. Veiga would later score off of a Raeber single to make the score 4-2.

Although Monroe would give one run back to the Aggies in the sixth, the 'Runners would not be stopped from sweeping the doubleheader. Raeber moved to the mound to close out the game and wasted no time. The sophomore from Hanford retired the side in order and preserved the win for Monroe while recording her third save of the season.

“Our team showed guts in both wins. We had a long four days and the ladies kept battling through,” said Head Coach Crissy Buck-Ziegler. Bakersfield had five players contribute to the day's total of six RBI, getting production from the top of the lineup to the bottom. While the offense helped, the 'Runners leaned on the arms of their pitching staff. “I am really proud of how Kelsie is throwing right now and Sydney was awesome to come in and close the second game,” added Bakersfield's coach.

The Roadrunners will return to action this weekend with a three game series against Sacramento State up north.

~www.GoRunners.com~