BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- The Bakersfield softball team will hit the Central Coast before traveling to Missouri to conclude the 2014 regular season.
The 'Runners (13-35-1, 3-9 WAC) will start the week with a doubleheader on Tuesday against Cal Poly (25-16, 7-5 BWC). Cal Poly went to paradise and swept Hawaii last weekend and will look to keep that momentum rolling against a Bakersfield squad with which the Mustangs have a storied past. Bakersfield holds a 37-24 all-time record over Cal Poly and the teams split their doubleheader in 2013.
The Mustangs will rely upon the arms of Sierra Hyland (21-7, 1.76 ERA) and Chloe Wurst (4-8, 4.27 ERA). Hyland is a dual threat for the team as the pitcher also bats for herself and leads the team in batting average (.367) and RBI (28).
UMKC (16-32, 5-7 WAC) will play host to Bakersfield this weekend as the Roadrunners and Kangaroos will finish off WAC regular season play for 2014. Kansas City and Bakersfield will be playing their first games against each other in the program's histories and each game has important implications in the WAC. Bakersfield is two games behind UMKC, Seattle U, and Utah Valley in the WAC standings and a sweep against the 'Roos could potentially earn the 'Runners as high as the second seed in the WAC Tournament.
Katie Kelley, the reigning WAC hitter of the week, will try to stop that from happening this weekend. The sophomore utility player tallied eight hits and four RBI in five games last week. The Kangaroos will rely on the arms of Kelley (10-14, 3.28 ERA) and Cinda Ramos (5-11, 3.82 ERA) to try to stop the 'Runner bats.
Bakersfield brings weapons of its own as Kelsie Monroe (Jr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) and Lyndsay Klimenko (Fr., Half Moon Bay, Calif., Half Moon Bay HS) had great performances last weekend en route to the team's first WAC series win since it joined the conference this season. The two pitchers combined for three complete games, only five runs given up, and one shutout as Bakersfield won the series against Seattle U.
The doubleheader against Cal Poly starts at three p.m. and the three-game series with UMKC begins with a doubleheader on Friday at two p.m. (CDT). Bakersfield's regular reason will conclude with a single game against the 'Roos on Saturday at 12 p.m. (CDT).
~www.GoRunners.com~
