BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- The first-place New Mexico State Aggies won both games of Friday's doubleheader against the CSU Bakersfield softball team. Kelsie Monroe's (Sr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) outstanding pitching gave the 'Runners a chance to win Game 1 but the 'Runners could not produce run support. Dallas McBride's performance in the circle and at the plate helped NMSU run away with the second game.

“I think Kelsie is one of the best pitchers in the WAC,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Bakersfield's head coach. “I think she does a great job keeping them off balance and everything was working today. It makes it easy when you call pitches against hitters like that and you keep them guessing. It's going to be tough to go down to Las Cruces [for the WAC Tournament] and play them in Las Cruces, but I think that we'll be ready for them at that time.”

Game 1 - NMSU 1, CSUB 0

The Aggies got out to a quick start, loading the bases in the top of the first inning with no outs. With one of the nation's best home run hitters at the plate in Fiana Finau, Monroe came up big with a strikeout. The senior pitcher also fanned the next NMSU batter and induced a harmless lineout to get the 'Runners out of the bases-loaded jam.

In the top of the third, Monroe got Finau to ground into just her second double play of the season. She then fanned an Aggie for the third out of the inning and her fourth strikeout of the game. Nicole Curry (Fr., Martinez, Calif., Alhambra HS) doubled down the line with one out in the bottom half of the third, but the 'Runners were unable to produce a run.

After a single and an error put Kelsey Dodd on second base, NMSU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth. Malena Padilla's RBI single pushed the run across. NMSU threatened again in the seventh when Emma Adams doubled down the right field line to lead off. A walk would put the 'Runners in a tight spot, but Monroe induced one fly ball to each of her outfielders to keep CSUB within one run.

The 'Runners pressured in the final inning only to have the game end on an extremely close play. With one out, Ashley Carter (Sr., Tehachapi, Calif., Tehachapi HS) and Madison Bundy (Sr., Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) recorded back-to-back singles. CSUB had 'Runners on the corners with two outs when a sharp grounder hit up the middle was snagged by a diving Haley Nakamura. The Aggie shortstop knocked down the ball as she crossed over the base. The 'Runner advancing to second was called out despite protests that Nakamura did not have control of the ball when she fell on the bag.

The play ended the game as the Aggies took the 1-0 victory and improved to 36-12 (10-0 WAC). CSUB dropped to 16-21 (4-6 WAC) with the loss as Monroe sunk to 12-9 despite an exceptional pitching performance. The righty threw a complete game, gave up no earned runs and six hits while striking out four Aggies. Carter led the 'Runners by going 2-for-3 in the game.

Game 2 - NMSU 7, CSUB 2

The second game of the doubleheader started out much the same as the first as both teams were scoreless through three innings. In the top of the fourth, three straight singles to lead off the game resulted in a 1-0 NMSU lead. Lyndsay Klimenko (So., Half Moon Bay, Calif., Half Moon Bay HS) recorded an out, then gave up a three-run home run to McBride. Klimenko responded well, retiring the next two Aggies, but NMSU had a four-run advantage.

The Aggies added another run in the top of the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. Bakersfield struggled to put 'Runners on after Adrianna Cardoza (R-Jr., Santa Rosa, Calif., La Quinta HS) led off the bottom of the first inning with a bloop single. After that at bat, CSUB did not have a single baserunner until the bottom of the sixth.

Bundy led off the CSUB half of the sixth with a single to break McBride's retired batter streak. On the next pitch, Sydney Raeber (Jr., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) tripled down the right field line to give CSUB its first run of the day. One pitch later, Cardoza sent a ball to deep center that resulted in a sacrifice fly and a 5-2 score.

The 'Runner momentum was quelled in the next inning when Staci Rodriguez's two-RBI single put the Aggies on top 7-2. Klimenko struggled to close the inning and was pulled in favor of Raeber. The junior utility player struck out the only batter she faced to send CSUB to its final three outs.

McBride, who broke the score open with her home run, finished the complete-game victory. The lefty sat the 'Runners down in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win. CSUB dropped to 16-22 (4-7 WAC) while New Mexico State improved to 37-12 (11-0 WAC).

Raeber led the 'Runner offense, going 1-for-2 with the RBI triple while also scoring a run. The triple was the first of her three-year career. Cardoza had the only other CSUB RBI with her sacrifice fly. Klimenko went 6.2 innings, gave up seven runs, and struck out two Aggies. Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with two RBI in the game while McBride added three RBI.

CSUB and NMSU will return to the Roadrunner Softball Complex for the final game of the series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. while Senior Day celebrations will take place shortly before the game begins.

~GoRunners.com~