SACRAMENTO, Calif.-- Bakersfield softball took on the Sacramento State Hornets in a double header on Saturday in which the 'Runners split the two games.

Game 1

Bakersfield won the day's first game by a score of 6-1.

The 'Runners got out to an early lead thanks to three straight singles to open the game from Karissa Veiga (Sr., Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS), Sydney Raeber (So., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) and Jessica Castaneda (So., Bakersfield, Calif., Ridgeview HS). The latter's single scored Veiga from first and gave Bakersfield a 1-0 lead.

The 'Runners would leave the bases loaded in the top of the first, but would capitalize in the second inning with two more runs to make the score 3-0. Two consecutive walks to lead off the inning allowed for Raeber to single home a run and then be followed up by an RBI double from Castaneda.

Bakersfield's starting pitcher, Kelsie Monroe (Jr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College), carried a perfect game through the first three innings but encountered some trouble in the fourth. The pitcher allowed a leadoff double to Sac State's Kortney Solis, hit the next batter, and then walked the bases loaded with no outs. Despite walking the next batter in for a run, Monroe then induced a ground ball for an out at home followed by an inning-ending double play to limit the damage to only one run.

CSUB would tack on two more runs in the top of the sixth after Veiga doubled in a run and then scored in the next at bat. Another run in the top of the seventh would give Bakersfield a 6-1 lead. With the Roadrunner offense backing her up, Monroe silenced the Hornets with a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth and sixth. The junior took a one-hitter into the bottom of the seventh and finish that way by inducing three consecutive groundouts to end the game and preserve the win.

Monroe finished the game with seven innings pitched, one hit, one run given up, three walks and four strikeouts. Each of Bakersfield's first four hitters in the lineup added two hits in the game while only two 'Runners did not record a hit.

Game 2

Bakersfield dropped the second game of the day by a score of 2-1.

The game was a solid pitchers' duel with Bakersfield's starter, Amber Mills (So., Fresno, Calif., Clovis West HS), keeping the game scoreless through the first three innings while the Hornets' pitcher was unscored upon until the fifth.

Sacramento State got on the board first with a couple of singles and some small ball in the fourth to take a 1-0 lead. The 'Runners put up the equalizer in the next half inning when Amy Ricciardi (Sr., Chino Hills, Calif., Ayala HS) singled home Mills.

The Hornets scored again in the bottom of the sixth after a one-out double set up a two-out RBI single for the 2-1 lead. Bakersfield was unable to mount a comeback, going down in order in the top of the seventh as Sac State held on for the win.

Mills finished the game with her second loss of the season but pitched six strong innings giving up only two runs on five hits. Veiga and Ricciardi recorded Bakersfield's only two hits in the game.

Bakersfield (7-20) will return to the diamond tomorrrow for the final game in the series against Sacramento State (9-13). First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.

~www.GoRunners.com~