BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- The CSU Bakersfield softball team will take on its third tournament of the season as the 'Runners continue their march toward the Western Athletic Conference Tournament in May. CSUB will play five games over three days in Los Angeles as a part of the LMU/CSUN Tournament.
Sacramento State enters the tournament with a 3-8 record and a three-game losing streak. On Feb. 24, the Hornets lost a close game 8-6 to the same Pacific squad that split with CSU Bakersfield Feb. 21. Sac State has five players batting over .300 with outfielder Shelby Johnston leading the way at .391. The Hornets go to either junior Jennifer Hartman or senior Caitlin Brooks first to get the call to start in the circle. Both have similar ERAs at 3.94 and 4.04, respectively.
CSUN will begin the weekend with a 15-3 record. The Matadors are off to a hot start thanks to the bat of Katie Hooper who leads the team with a .408 batting average, six home runs, and 20 RBI. The two main CSUN pitchers, Zoe Conley and Brianna Elder both have ERAs under 3.00 while the former sits at 1.06. Both are 6-1 on the season.
LMU has a 4-9 record this season after a tough 1-4 weekend at the Mary Nutter Classic in Palm Spring, Calif. The Lions have a strong offense which is led by Amanda Dirks and Alex Finie who hit .455 and .425, respectively. Rachael Farrington will figure to be the go-to starter in the circle for LMU as the lefty has started nine games so far this season.
CSU Bakersfield will start the tournament with a 4-8 record after a split against Pacific. Sydney Raeber (Jr., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) leads the team with a .406 batting average and five RBI. Kelsie Monroe (Sr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) is coming off winning the WAC Pitcher of the Week award after a complete-game shutout of Pacific last weekend. She leads the team with a 3.32 ERA and is 3-5 on the year.
The 'Runners will open play with a game against Sacramento State Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. before facing a CSUN at 2:30 p.m. Saturday will feature a doubleheader against Loyola Marymount starting 9:30 a.m. before CSUB closes the tournament on Sunday with a second contest with Sacramento State at 11 a.m. Live Stats will not be available for the games against Sacramento State. Check back here for results and recaps at the end of each day.
~GoRunners.com~
