BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- The Roadrunner softball team is set to continue its ten-game home stand as the team will take on the Grand Canyon Antelopes in the second Western Athletic Conference series of the season.
Bakersfield (9-28-1, 0-3 WAC) had a tough week as the 'Runners came out with four losses and one tie in five home games. After losing to and then tying Cal State Fullerton, the CSUB was swept by Utah Valley in the WAC-opening series.
The Roadrunners will welcome Grand Canyon (17-16, 2-1 WAC) to the Roadrunner Softball Complex with a single game on Friday followed by a doubleheader on Saturday. The two teams have not played each other since 2007 while Bakersfield won that single game 9-5. The 'Runners hold a 6-5 all-time advantage over the 'Lopes, but GCU entered the 2014 softball season as a first-year member of the WAC so the teams will play regularly and often in coming years.
Grand Canyon enters the week coming off of a 2-1 WAC series win over Kansas City. The 'Lopes opened the series with two wins on Friday before dropping a 4-2 marathon that lasted 11 innings on Saturday.
Stephanie Pesqueria is the Antelopes' go-to pitcher as the senior from Arizona has started half of the team's games in the circle. The pitcher recorded 17 innings in two starts last weekend while giving up only three runs and striking out nine batters over that span. Pesqueria leads the 'Lopes in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts, and complete games. Her 3.00 ERA on the season is second in the WAC, trailing only Kelsie Monroe (Jr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College).
Grand Canyon is an offensive-minded team which comes into the week ranked second in the WAC in runs scored per game (4.85). The 'Lopes have a group of strong hitters that are highlighted by Kayla Henry and Kelsey Barak. Henry leads the team in batting average (.343) and boasts speed as well as a good eye, going 5-6 in stolen bases and registering nine walks. Barak is the heavy hitter of the team as her seven doubles, five home runs, and a .318 batting average helped her to the fifth most RBI in the WAC this season (22).
Bakersfield's pitching struggled last week, giving up 33 runs over the five-game span. The Roadrunners will need Monroe to pitch two solid games in order to hold the GCU offense at bay. Despite struggling last week, the junior comes into this week leading the WAC in ERA (2.91), innings pitched (139.1), and strikeouts (82).
The 'Runners are led on offense by Karissa Veiga (Sr., Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) and Amy Ricciardi (Sr., Chino Hills, Calif., Ayala HS). Veiga comes into the week tied for second in the nation in triples hit and leads the WAC in hits. Ricciardi leads Bakersfield in RBI (17) and has the second most doubles on the team with seven.
First pitch on Friday is scheduled for two p.m. while the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday will start at one p.m. Come out to the Roadrunner Softball Complex for the three-game series this weekend.
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