BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- On Senior Day at the Roadrunner Softball Complex, a CSUB senior stole the show and gave CSUB its first win over New Mexico State since 2010. Kelsie Monroe's (Sr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) complete-game four-hitter helped the 'Runners to take the series finale against the WAC's top team.

Bakersfield's head coach, Crissy Buck-Ziegler, acknowledge the importance of the win for CSUB after the game: “It's a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, I think. Honestly, the team has been playing very well lately. [NMSU] is a great team; they hit the ball very well.”

The 'Runners struck first for two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman Julea Cavazos (Temecula, Calif., Temecula Valley HS) started the two-out rally with a single. Karsyn Guzman (So., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) followed that up with an RBI single which scored Adrianna Cardoza (R-Jr., Santa Ana, Calif., La Quinta HS), who reached on an error. Selena Gonzalez (So., Manteca, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) capped the scoring with another RBI single as the 'Runners took their first lead of the series at 2-0.

NMSU put two on with just one out in the top of the fourth. Monroe, who pitched her last game at the Roadrunner Softball Complex, got CSUB out of trouble as she has all season. The righty got the next two Aggies to fly out harmlessly to keep her shutout going.

Madison Bundy (Sr., Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) sent a line drive over the left field wall for her third home run in the last two series. The senior's fourth-inning blast gave CSUB a 3-0 lead and forced NMSU to remove its starter, Makayla McAdams. Two relievers later, Dallas McBride got the Aggies out of the inning. 

After putting two on with no outs in the top of the sixth inning, Monroe dismissed any concerns by catching the next two Aggies looking for her sixth and seventh strikeouts of the game. The next batter hit a sharp ground ball to Guzman at third base, but the veteran infielder snagged it and fired to first to get CSUB out of the inning unscathed.

After getting an Aggie to ground out on in the top of the seventh, Monroe allowed a walk to Emma Adams. An infield popup put the 'Runners just one out away from handing the first WAC loss of the season to NMSU. Rachel Rodriguez singled to the pitcher to put two runners on but Monroe induced a foul out to finish the complete-game victory.

Bakersfield's ace, who leads the WAC in ERA and opposing batting average, earned her sixth shutout of the season to improve to 13-9. CSUB (17-22, 5-7 WAC) earned its 17th win of the year, the most since 2011 (17-35). Monroe gave up just four hits while striking out seven Aggies. Buck-Ziegler had high praises for her senior pitcher: “Kelsie did a fantastic job keeping them off balance. She was dialed in this weekend. I am happy for her that she ends her career here at CSUB on a very high note.”

New Mexico State (37-13, 11-1 WAC) suffered its only WAC defeat of the season and just its third shutout of the year. The Aggie starting pitcher, Makayla Adams, took the loss on Saturday. NMSU came into the weekend batting .352 this year but went just 20-for-80 (.250) in the series.

Guzman went 2-for-3 in the series finale with one RBI to lead the 'Runner offense. Cavazos and Sydney Raeber (Jr., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) both chipped in two hits apiece. Bundy went 1-for-3 with the home run that gave CSUB extra cushion.

Fellow senior Ashley Carter (Tehachapi, Calif., Tehachapi HS) caught all 21 innings this weekend behind the plate while the fourth and final 'Runner senior, Tarah Steinbach (Tehachapi, Calif., Friends University) got her first action this season when she pinch ran in the fifth inning. “Carter played a good weekend and have some great blocks behind the plate," said Buck-Ziegler. "We got Tarah in the ballgame which I wanted to do for her for everything that she's done for the program. Madi hitting that home run, that was awesome. That's from their hard work and it was a good payoff from them today.”

The Roadrunners will travel to Seattle next weekend to close out the regular season. The three-game series will begin with a doubleheader on Friday, Apr. 24, and will conclude with a single game on Saturday. From there, the five eligible teams will head to Las Cruces, N.M. for the 2015 WAC Tournament May 7-9.

~GoRunners.com~