BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- The Roadrunner softball team swept the Boise State Broncos to extend their winning streak to four. CSUB set a team Division I single-game record with two triples in the first game while earning a run-rule victory over BSU in Game 2.

“Two great wins,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, head coach of the 'Runners. “The kids did a good job. I gave them a couple days off and they came with a lot of passion and intensity. They kept on the gas pedal, so, I was happy about that.” The 'Runners improved to 11-12, just one game below .500, a win percentage they have not been at or higher than since March of 2010 (9-9). With 11 wins in their first 23 games, CSUB is out to its best start since the 2009 season (13-10).

The 'Runners got solid performances out of both of their starting pitchers, Kelsie Monroe (Sr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) and Lyndsay Klimenko (So., Half Moon Bay, Calif., Half Moon Bay HS). “The pitchers have done a great job,” said their head coach. “Their mindset is really good. We play one pitch at a time and we flush whatever happened in the past. That was evident with Lyndsay giving up the home run and then three up, three down after that.”

Buck-Ziegler's team has benefited from both good pitching and a recent offensive outburst. The 'Runners have outscored their opponents 18-3 during the four-game win streak. Bakersfield's head coach attributes the success at the plate to the student-athletes buying into the team concept: “The kids are attacking the ball. That's been the biggest change. They're not putting themselves in holes and they're being aggressive.”

Game 1 - CSUB 4, Boise State 1

The Broncos got on the board first as Hailey Torrez drove in an RBI with a single to give Boise State a 1-0 after the first half inning. The 'Runners tried to answer back in the bottom half of the first with a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity. CSUB was unable to capitalize as Nicole Wilson, BSU's starter, retired the next two 'Runners to get out of the jam.

The 'Runners tied the game in the bottom of the second after Madison Bundy (Sr., Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) scored from second thanks to a single and a Boise State throwing error. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Alexandrea Simmons (Jr., Ontario, Calif., Mt. SAC) tripled over the head of the BSU right fielder. The next batter hit a sharp grounder to second and Simmons slid under the tag to give CSUB a 2-1 lead.

Briana Pontecorvo (Jr., Hanford, Calif., San José State) came up to pinch hit in the bottom of the sixth with a 'Runner on and delivered a clutch home run. The two-run blast to right center was the first of the junior's CSUB career and gave the 'Runners a 4-1 lead heading to the final three outs for Boise State.

Monroe allowed a leadoff bunt single in the top of the seventh but retired a Bronco and induce a game-ending double play. The senior pitcher improved to 7-5 on the season while scattering five hits in her eighth complete game of the season.

Three 'Runners collected two hits in the game: Simmons, Nicole Curry (Fr., Martinez, Calif., Alhambra HS), and Amber Mills (Jr., Fresno, Calif., Clovis West HS). Pontecorvo led the way with two RBI while Sydney Raeber (Jr., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) added one RBI. Hailey Torrez led the Bronco offense going 1-for-3 with the only RBI.

Game 2 - CSUB 9, Boise State 1 (5 inn.)

The 'Runners struck first in the second game with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Back-to-back leadoff singles set up a scoring opportunity that Raeber pounced on. The junior utility player hit a single to right field for her team-leading 11th RBI of the season. The fielder misplayed the hard hit single and allowed another run to come across as Bakersfield took a 2-0 lead.

CSU Bakersfield exploded for a five-run third inning to take a 7-0 lead over the Broncos. The offensive outburst was highlighted by Jo Larios' (So., Holtville, Calif., Seminole State College) bases-clearing, three-RBI triple. Simmons led off the inning with her second triple of the day while Larios' three bagger was the second of the game for the 'Runners, a CSUB single-game Division I record.

The Broncos got a run back in the top of the fourth as Rachel Rodriguez hit her second home run of the year to make the score 7-1. Klimenko rebounded nicely and retired the next six Broncos in order to close out the game.

The 'Runners loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fourth but only managed to score one run to go up 8-1. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth and two outs, Makenzie Zinger (Jr., Visalia, Calif., Redwood HS) singled home the winning run as CSUB earned its first run-rule win since Mar. 10, 2012 (12-3 win over Maine).

Klimenko picked up her third win of the season while allowing just four hits, striking out four Broncos, and walking only one batter.  Raeber led the way on offense, going 3-for-4 with one RBI. Simmons added another pair of hits as the junior leadoff batter went 4-for-7 on the day and scored four runs. Pontecorvo finished the day with two  hits and two RBI while Larios went 1-for-3 with her three-RBI triple.

CSUB will have eight days away from competition as finals week appraoches. In their next game, the Roadrunners will continue conlcude their homestand by hosting Cal Poly on Mar. 24 in a midweek doubleheader. First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 12 p.m.

~GoRunners.com~