BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- For the second straight game, errors proved to be costly for the CSU Bakersfield softball team which dropped the series finale to Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday. Bakersfield's starter, Kelsie Monroe (Sr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) pitched the 41st complete game of her career and allowed no earned runs to the Kangaroos, but a sloppy third inning gave UMKC the runs it needed to take a 2-1 victory.

“Kelsie threw a very good game,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler. “If we don't have a catcher's inference and we don't have those two errors, the inning is much different. I also thought that we should have made better adjustments at the plate. We never looked comfortable today.”

The 'Runners pressured early in the game, loading the bases in the bottom of the first thanks to two infield singles and an error. Karsyn Guzman (So., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) picked up her third RBI on the season when Katie Kelley, UMKC's starter, plunked her on the shoulder. A nice defensive play by the Kangaroos kept the score at 1-0.

Much like in Friday's second game, UMKC took advantage of three errors in the top of the third inning. The 'Roos were able to bring two runs around thanks to Bakersfield's blunders and took a 2-1 lead. Caitlin Christopher's RBI single was the dagger to a tough inning and proved to be the game-winning hit.

Monroe went on to pitch all seven innings of the game while not allowing another run after the two unearned runs. The senior righty also recorded the 100th appearance and 300th strikeout of her career on Saturday. “Kelsie is doing a great job,” said Buck-Ziegler. “She is pitching like a senior, doing a good job, and taking it one pitch at a time.” Monroe needs just 9.2 more innings pitched to have 500 as a Roadrunner.

The 'Runners were down to their final three outs in the bottom of the seventh. Two quick outs gave the 'Runners one final chance as Madison Bundy (Sr., Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) came to the plate. The senior hit a ball hard to the UMKC third baseman and beat out the throw to keep the 'Runners alive. Adrianna Cardoza (R-Jr., Santa Ana, Calif., La Quinta HS) walked to put two 'Runners on, but Kelley recorded the final out to take the game and the series 2-1.

The Roadrunners will take a few days off from competition to recover from a week filled with seven games. CSUB (13-17, 1-2 WAC) will head to Orem, Utah next weekend to take on Utah Valley (12-23, 0-1 WAC). The 'Runners and Wolverines will open the series with a single game on Friday, Apr. 3 and will complete it with a doubleheader on Saturday.

~GoRunners.com~