BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- The Roadrunners will begin a full week of softball action with a doubleheader against Cal State Northridge on Wednesday and will head to New Mexico State for a three-game WAC series this weekend.
Bakersfield and Cal State Northridge have a deep history in which the Matadors own a 36-17 record over the 'Runners. CSUN won two games earlier this season against Bakersfield by scores of 5-2 and 4-2.
The Matadors came away with a Big West Conference series win against UC Davis this past weekend. Taylor Glover boasts a .397 batting average and 35 RBI while Brianna Elder is the workhorse of the pitching rotation. The junior pitcher comes into the week with a 17-6 record and a 1.89 ERA.
New Mexico State has only played Bakersfield five times with the last two meetings coming in 2010. The teams split a doubleheader as the Aggies reclaimed a slim advantage in the all-time series (3-2).
New Mexico State leads the WAC in both conference and overall record in 2014 (23-16, 5-1 WAC). The Aggies took their last series against UMKC 2-1 while scoring 26 runs over the three-game span. Celisha Walker leads the NMSU pitchers with the third best ERA in the WAC (3.50). As a team, the Aggies lead the WAC in several offensive categories including batting average, slugging percentage, hits, home runs, and runs scored per game (5.67). Staci Rodriguez catalyzes the potent offense as she boasts a .404 batting average while hitting for power as well with 12 home runs on the season.
The 'Runners had a tough weekend as they hosted Grand Canyon in Bakersfield's second ever WAC series. After falling 8-0 on Friday, Bakersfield opened the Saturday doubleheader with the program's first ever WAC win. Karissa Veiga (Sr., Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS) and Jessica Castaneda (So., Bakersfield, Calif., Ridgeview HS) powered the way for the 'Runner offense this past weekend. Veiga went 3-9 and added 2 RBI in the series. The senior outfielder is also tied for second in NCAA Division I softball for most triples (5). Castaneda added another home run to her team-leading total (3) this past weekend.
The 'Runners have played without two of their senior leaders for some time due to injuries, but Taylor DeSilva (Sunnyvale, Calif., Univ. of Pacific) and Shay Fryer (San Diego, Calif., University HS) returned to Bakersfield's lineup this week. Fryer, a WAC Preseason All-Conference honoree this year, was injured in the season's first game on Feb. 7. Just shy of two months later, the veteran infielder returned to action. DeSilva had been out since the beginning of March with her own injury, but got two starts for the 'Runners this weekend.
Bakersfield's doubleheader against the Matadors will be played at the Roadrunner Softball Complex with first pitch scheduled for one p.m. on Wednesday. New Mexico State will welcome the 'Runners on Friday and will close the series with a doubleheader on Saturday.
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