BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- The CSU Bakersfield softball team begin a full week of play with a wild doubleheader against Cal Poly. Kelsie Monroe (Sr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) led the 'Runners to a win with a no-hitter in Game 1 while Cal Poly pulled out a big comeback to take the second game.

When asked about Monroe's no-hitter, Bakersfield's Head Coach, Crissy Buck-Ziegler, was not surprised: “I think that it's been coming for her. You can see that she has building momentum and I'm just happy for her. I think it was an all-around great team effort. Kelsie has really been doing well and is just taking it one pitch at a time. I'm really proud of her.”

Monroe's performance was the first non-combined no-hitter for CSUB since the program moved to NCAA Division I in 2007. In 2012, Taylor DeSilva and Marissa Hiller threw a combined no-hitter to beat UC Davis 2-1. The last time Cal Poly was no hit was in 2012 as well when they fell to Boise State. With the win, the 'Runners earned their first five-game win streak since April of 2010.

The 'Runners lost a lead late in the second game, but Buck-Ziegler saw through the disappointment: “I think we let down a little bit, mentally, and I think we weren't hitting spots. That's what it comes down to, but the kids fought. Cal Poly is a great team. I think they hit the ball very well, but I think that we're playing good ball and that's what we need to focus on.”

Game 1 - CSUB 2, Cal Poly 1

Cal Poly struck first in the top of the second on an unearned run. Stephanie Heyward led off the inning by reaching on a fielding error. The Mustang's designated player wound up at second and back-to-back grounders allowed Cal Poly to take a 1-0 lead.

After running into trouble in the second inning, Monroe began to roll through the Mustangs. The senior righty retired 10 straight batters and had a no-hitter going through six innings when the 'Runners finally gave Monroe some offensive support.

Madison Bundy (Sr., Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) led off the top of the sixth with her second double of the game. Two batters later, Selena Gonzalez (So., Manteca, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) tripled home Bundy to tie the game at 1-1. The next 'Runner would fly out to shallow right field, but an errant throw to home got away from the catcher and allowed Gonzalez to come home. CSUB took a 2-1 lead into the final three outs of the game.

Monroe walked the leadoff batter for Cal Poly, but would strand her at second as a grounder followed by two foul outs solidified the no-hitter. The senior pitcher finished the game allowing one unearned run, no hits, and two walks while striking out five Mustangs.

The 'Runners finished with five hits behind Bundy's first two doubles of the season. Gonzalez had the only RBI of the game for CSUB while going 1-for-1 with three walks. CSUB improved to 12-12, reaching the .500 mark for the first time since 2010, while Monroe improved to 8-7. Cal Poly dropped to 16-17 with the loss.

Game 2 - Cal Poly 8, CSUB 6

The Mustangs struck first for the second straight game as the thoughts of another no-hitter were quickly erased. The first batter of the game for Cal Poly, Emily Ceccacci, singled then came home on Chelsea Convissar's RBI double to take a 1-0 lead.

The 'Runners went hitless through the first two innings but responded with a big third inning to take a 2-1 lead. Bundy continued her hot hitting with her third hit of the day by singling to lead off the inning. She would move over to third and a sacrifice fly plated a run for CSUB. The 'Runners took the lead when Raeber's team-leading seventh double of the season plated a second run.

CSUB opened the game up with a three-run fifth inning. Bakefield took a 5-1 lead thanks to a series of bizarre plays that sandwiched three singles and a double. The big moment of the inning was Nicole Curry's (Fr., Martinez, Calif., Alhambra HS) two-RBI single with two outs.

The Mustangs responded with a rally in the top half of the sixth inning. Four runs off of four hits and an error tied the game up at 5-5 while CSUB had to pull starter Lyndsay Klimenko (So., Half Moon Bay, Calif., Half Moon Bay HS). Amber Mills (Jr., Fresno, Calif., Clovis West HS) allowed a two-RBI hit but closed out the wild half inning to keep the game tied.

In the bottom half of the inning, CSUB responded with the go-ahead run. Briana Pontecorvo got the offense going with a leadoff single and would eventually score on Bundy's third double of the day. The 'Runners took a one-run, 6-5 lead into the last three outs for the second straight game.

Mills came back on to attempt to close out the game and a six-game winning streak for CSUB. The junior pitcher retired the first two Mustangs before giving up a double and a single followed by a three-run home run from Ashley Tornio which collided with the left field foul post. Cal Poly reversed the rolls on Bakersfield and took an 8-6 lead into the final three outs.

Curry hit a two-out single to center field, but the 'Runners were unable to mount a comeback and fell 8-6. Bundy finished the day 4-for-5 while Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with an RBI and three walks. Mills took the loss in the second game to sink to 1-3 on the year while the 'Runners dropped to 12-13.

Bakersfield will return to action tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader in Fullerton. The 'Runners will take on Cal State Fullerton with first pitch of Game 1 scheduled for 3 p.m.

~GoRunners.com~