BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- Bakersfield finished its home stand and non-conference play with a doubleheader against Cal State Northridge. CSUN shut out the 'Runners in Game 1, while Bakersfield returned the favor in Game 2.

Game 1: Cal State Northridge 5, Bakersfield 0

Cal State Northridge got on the board first with a single run in the top of the first inning. Katie Hooper's RBI-single plated the first run of the game and gave the Matadors a 1-0 lead. Taylor Glover added two more runs in the top of the second with a two-RBI double that extended the CSUN lead to 3-0.

The 'Runners created some trouble for CSUN's starting pitcher, Briana Elder, by putting runners on first and second with no outs. After two outs, a hit batter loaded the bases for Bakersfield but Elder induced a grounder to get out of trouble. Ariana Wassmer sent a ball flying over the left field wall in the top of the third to take a 4-0 lead.

Bakersfield stranded two more 'Runners in the bottom half of the third as the team continued to struggle to generate hits with runners on.  The game would end with Bakersfield leaving a total of nine runners on base. "In the first game, we hit the ball really well but we have to have more clutch hitting," said Bakersfield's Head Coach Crissy Buck-Ziegler.

The bright spot of the first game for the 'Runners was Lyndsay Klimenko's (Fr., Half Moon Bay, Calif., Half Moon Bay HS) relief performance. The freshman came on in the top of the third inning and pitched five innings, giving up only one earned run while striking out three Matadors. Jessica Castaneda (So., Bakersfield, Calif., Ridgeview HS) and Karsyn Guzman (Fr., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) added two hits apiece to the 'Runner cause as the team scattered seven hits.

Game 2: Bakersfield 3, Cal State Northridge 0

Amber Mills (So., Fresno, Calif., Clovis West HS) got the start for Bakersfield in Game 2 and immediately got into trouble. With bases loaded and only one out, the sophomore from Fresno managed to record back-to-back outs and prevented any damage. Through the first three innings, the Matadors would scatter three hits while leaving four runners on base.

The 'Runners started out just as slow as their opponent, tallying only a single hit in the first three frames. The lone hit came from Sydney Raeber (So., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS), but the outfielder was thrown out trying to turn a double into a triple in the first inning.

The top of the fourth came and went with Mills getting herself out of another bases loaded jam, bringing the left on base total for CSUN to 7. The 'Runners finally took the opportunity and gained the lead in the bottom of the fourth. After loading the bases, Madison Bundy's (Jr., Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) sacrifice fly plated a run that gave Bakersfield its first run of the day. Following a single, Kara Frankhouser (Sr., Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield College) and Kayli Shaw (Fr., Rocklin, Calif., Whitney HS) were both hit by pitches and moved the runners around the bases for a 3-0 lead.

CSUN threatened again in the top of the sixth with bases loaded and one out, but Monroe came on in relief and got a strikeout and a groundout to keep a 3-0 lead. After giving up a leadoff walk in the top of the 7th, Amy Ricciardi (Sr., Chino Hills, Calif., Ayala HS) came up with a clutch defensive play. The senior had been moved to second from her everyday position of first after Shaw was hit in the ankle by a pitch. Ricciardi picked up a hard hit grounder, tagged the runner going from first to second, and flipped over to first for the double play.

With another grounder, the 'Runners capped off the 3-0 shutout over CSUN as Mills picked up the win and Monroe recorded her first save of the season. Raeber finished the day going 3-6 with a run scored while Ricciardi added three hits herself. "In the second game, we came up with clutch hits when we needed to. As far as our pitching, we did a fantastic job holding a very good offense to zero runs. It was a good team win," said Buck-Ziegler.

Bakersfield (11-31-1, 1-5 WAC) will travel to play conference foe New Mexico State this weekend with a single game on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday.

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