NORTHRIDGE, Calif.-- The Roadrunner softball team opened the CSUN/LMU Tournament on Friday with a pair of games. CSU Bakersfield fell to Sacramento State before upsetting CSUN with sophomore Karsyn Guzman (Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) leading the way on offense.

“We switched things up today and showed what type of team we are,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Bakersfield's head coach. “Whenever we play CSUN, it is a battle, and today was no exception.”

Game 1 - Sac State 4, CSUB 1

The 'Runners fell to the Hornets after recording only three hits in the opening game of the tournament. Caitlin Brooks pitched a complete-game and gave up only the one run to CSUB.

CSU Bakersfield opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning when Guzman sent her second career home run over the left field fence. The solo shot gave the sophomore her first RBI on the season, but would be the only run of the game for the 'Runners. CSUB managed to put pressure on Brooks often, recording four walks, but the Hornets fought off multiple scoring chances.

Sacramento State answered back immediately after Guzman's home run with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth. An RBI single and an RBI walk gave the Hornets a 2-1 lead. Sac State tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with the help of four singles. The 'Runners tried to overcome the 4-1 deficit with a one-out rally in the bottom of the seventh. Alexandrea Simmons (Jr., Ontario, Calif., Mt. SAC) picked up her second single of the game, but Brooks would induce a groundout to end any thoughts of a comeback.

The 'Runners fell to 4-9 with the loss while Sacramento State went to 4-8.

Game 2 - CSUB 7, CSUN 6

While the CSUN Matadors put up a single run in six of the seven innings, the CSU Bakersfield offense came alive at crucial times to keep the 'Runners in the game. After going down 1-0 early, CSUB tied the game in the bottom of the first off Sydney Raeber's (Jr., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) RBI single up the middle.

CSUN would go on to score a run in each of the next three innings to take a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth. CSUB exploded for four runs in the inning off of three hits and two walks. Makenzie Zinger (Jr., Visalia, Calif., Redwood HS) got her first RBI of the year to open the scoring off a squeeze bunt. After a bases-loaded hit by pitch made the score 4-3, Adrianna Cardoza (R-Jr., Santa Ana, Calif., La Quinta HS) plated another run with an RBI single. Another bases-loaded free base would give the 'Runners a 5-4 lead after four innings.

The Matadors tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the sixth inning thank to Crystal Maas' RBI hit. CSUN would take a 6-5 lead in the top of the seventh when Katie Hooper sent a solo home run over the fence. Kelsie Monroe (Sr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College), Bakersfield's starter, was unfazed by the home run and went on to record two outs to keep CSUB with a one-run deficit.

The 'Runners came up to bat with just three outs left and Selena Gonzalez (So., Manteca, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to left field. After a strikeout, Raeber, the team's leading hitter, singled to right to put 'Runners on the corners. Nicole Curry (Fr., Martinez, Calif., Alhambra HS) hit a sacrifice fly to deep center that allowed both Gonzalez to score and Raeber to advanced to second. With the score tied 6-6, Guzman, who hit the home run in Game 1, came up clutch with an RBI single up the middle to give the 'Runners a walkoff win.

Monroe fought through a tough CSUN lineup to pick up her fourth win of the season and third consecutive win. The senior finished her complete game giving up seven hits, six runs (five earned), three walks, and striking out three Matadors. CSUN used three pitchers in the game while Savannah Horvath went 2-for-2 with 2 RBI at the plate.

Guzman went 3-for-4 in the game with one important RBI while Raeber and Simmons added a pair of hits each. CSUB improved to 5-9 on the year while Monroe's record went to 4-5. The Matadors dropped to 16-4 after the loss.

Bakersfield will return with a doubleheader on Saturday. Both games will be played against co-host Loyola Marymount. Game 1 is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. in Los Angeles. Live stats will be available for both games and can be accessed at the top of this page.

~GoRunners.com~