LAS CRUCES, N.M.-- Bakersfield closed its WAC conference series against New Mexico State on Saturday afternoon. The Aggies ran away with a 17-2 victory.

Bakersfield pounced early for the second day in a row as the 'Runners put up two runs in the first inning. Despite getting two singles in the frame, most of the offensive productivity was actually a result of three NMSU errors. Karissa Veiga (Sr., Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) and Sydney Raeber (So., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) both came around to score in the inning.

In what can only be described as a remarkable feat, the Aggies responded in the bottom half of the inning by scoring 17 runs. Bakersfield cycled through three different pitchers in the inning as NMSU racked up a double-digit lead. With the help of two errors, the Aggies tallied 11 hits en route to a huge inning.

The 'Runners would scatter a few more hits along the way, but would eventually fall to NMSU by the same 17-2 score. The bright spot of the game for Bakersfield was the fact that the 'Runners did not allow a single run in the rest of the game after the first inning. Much of that success came from the arm of Lyndsay Klimenko (Fr., Half Moon Bay, Calif., Half Moon Bay HS). The freshman pitcher came in to relieve in the first inning and got the final out after facing four batters. Klimenko finished the game with 3.1 innings pitched in relief, giving up one hit and no runs and striking out three Aggies. Veiga ended up with two hits in the game for the 'Runners.

Bakersfield will head home to host Seattle U next weekend. The Roadrunners will continue WAC play with the three-game series which starts Friday at two p.m. and concludes with a one p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.

~www.GoRunners.com~