LAS VEGAS-- The Roadrunner softball team kicked off its 2015 season at the Sporto Classic hosted by UNLV on Friday. CSU Bakersfield fought well, but eventually fell to two teams ranked in the NCAA Top 25 on Day 1 of the tournament.

Game 1 - No. 11/13 Washington 11, CSUB 2

Washington got out of the gate with a bang as Ali Aguilar led off the game with a home run off of Bakersfield's starter, Kelsie Monroe (Sr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College). The Huskies would get another run in the top of the first and had the bases loaded, but Monroe fanned a batter for out three to limit the damage. The 'Runners threatened in the bottom half of the inning with runners on the corners and only one out, but a double play would end the opportunity as UW took a 2-0 lead into the second inning.

A big third inning, which included a cycle for the team, allowed the Huskies to take a 7-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, Bakersfield threatened again with runners on the corners and only one out. CSUB finally got on the board when Natalie Saucedo (Jr., Burlingame, Calif., College of San Mateo) singled through the right side to pick up her first RBI as a 'Runner.

An inning later, Sydney Raeber (Jr., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) led off the inning with a double down the line. Another new 'Runner, Sabrina Perez (Jr., West Covina, Calif., Santa Ana College), brought Raeber home with a single up the middle to make the score 7-2. A Taylor Van Zee home run would cap off a four-run top of the sixth for the Huskies who pulled ahead to the 11-2 lead by which they would win.

Raeber led the way for the 'Runners with two hits while junior Amber Mills (Fresno, Calif., Clovis West HS) was solid in relief of Monroe. Mills pitched 3.0 innings while giving up four runs, all of which were unearned. The junior from Fresno only allowed two hits and one walk while facing 14 Huskies.

Game 2 - No. 15 Minnesota 9, CSUB 1

The 'Runners and Gophers went head-to-head for the first two innings before CSUB took their first lead of the young season in the top of the third. Three straight infield singles loaded the bases for the 'Runners with only one out. Raeber got the job done, driving in Selena Gonzalez (So., Manteca, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) with a sacrifice fly to give CSUB a 1-0 lead. With Gophers on second and third, Kaitlyn Richardson hit a two-RBI single to help Minnesota take a 2-1 lead through three innings.

A big fourth inning helped the Gophers take a 9-1 lead over CSUB. Minnesota relied on a series of singles and doubles while going through three 'Runner pitchers en route to seven runs in the inning. Freshman pitcher Kylie Stober impressed in her Gopher debut, fanning eight 'Runners and scattering five hits while picking up the win.

Monroe finished the game with three innings pitched, allowing five runs, all earned in her second loss of the day. Gonzalez led the way for Bakersfield, going 2-for-2 in the game and scoring the only run and 3-for-3 on the day.

CSU Bakersfield will return for two more games at the Sporto Classic tomorrow. The 'Runners will start their day against the host UNLV at 3:45 p.m. before a nightcap with another tough matchup in Louisville.

~www.GoRunners.com~