SEATTLE-- The Roadrunner softball team split a Western Athletic Conference doubleheader against Seattle U Friday night. A huge offensive effort in the first game led to a CSU Bakersfield win. The 'Runner bats stayed warm in Game 2, but CSUB could not push base runners across as they fell to the Redhawks.

Lyndsay Klimenko (So., Half Moon Bay, Calif., Half Moon Bay HS) pitched 4.2 innings in each game, one in relief and one starting, and earned both a win and a loss for CSU Bakersfield. Selena Gonzalez (So. Manteca, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) led the 'Runners on offense, going 3-for-6 on the day with three RBI.

The deciding game on Saturday is not only important to the 'Runners for the series, but also for the WAC standings. CSUB sits half a game behind Missouri-Kansas City in the standings. With Game 3 being the regular-season finale, the 'Runners need a win and a UMKC loss in order to claim third place in the conference and the second seed at the WAC Tournament in May.

Game 1 - CSUB 11, Seattle U 9

The 'Runners got out to a quick start with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases for CSUB. Bakersfield traded a run for an out and then got an RBI single from Nicole Curry (Fr., Martinez, Calif., Alhambra HS) for a 2-0 lead.

Pitching would be suspect from both teams in the first game as Seattle U answer backed in the bottom half of the first. An Isabella Geronimo solo home run cut the CSUB advantage to just one run. The Redhawks piled on three more runs in the bottom of the second. Four singles and a walk helped Seattle U to a 4-2 lead.

With 'Runners on first and second, Curry hit a deep double to bring the score to 4-3 in the top of the third inning. Curry's second RBI of the game started a five-run rally for CSUB. A wild pitch scored a run before Madison Bundy's (Sr., Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) two-RBI single made the score 6-4. Adrianna Cardoza (R-Jr., Santa Ana, Calif., La Quinta HS) doubled on a sharp ball that bounced off the pitcher's leg. The second baseman's two-bagger brought Bundy home and gave the 'Runners a 7-4 lead.

The 'Runner lead was short lived as Seattle U posted a five-run inning of its own in the bottom half of the third. Molly Campbell, Maddy Kristjanson, and Geronimo all had RBI hits in the inning as the Redhawks took a 9-7 lead. Kelsie Monroe (Sr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College), Bakersfield's starter, was pulled in the process and ended with seven runs (nine earned) given up to Seattle U.

Klimenko came in to relieve and got CSUB out of trouble after allowing a two more of Monroe's runners to score. After limping out of the third inning, Klimenko would go on to allow just three hits while giving up no runs to the Redhawks.

CSUB responded back immediately with two runs in the top of the fourth. The 'Runners would only get two hits in the inning but a wild pitch scored a run and Bundy's  second RBI of the game tied the score at 9-9.

Klimenko held off Seattle U for the next three innings and allowed Bakersfield to go to the seventh with a chance to win. Ashley Carter (Sr., Tehachapi, Calif., Tehachapi HS) led off the inning with a single and her pinch runner would eventually score on a one-out sacrifice fly by Alexandrea Simmons (Jr., Ontario, Calif., Mt. SAC). With a 10-9 lead, the 'Runners tacked on an insurance run on a strange play in which Cardoza got caught in a rundown, but not before Bundy was able to score from third.

Bakersfield's sophomore reliever came back out and closed down her fourth victory of the season by retiring SU in order. Klimenko finished the game with 4.1 innings pitched, three hits, no runs, two walks, and two strikeouts while she improved to 4-5 on the year. Julea Cavazos (Temecula, Calif., Temecula Valley HS) went 3-for-4 in the game for CSUB while Curry and Bundy added two hits and two RBI each.

Game 2 - Seattle U 7, CSUB 2

The Redhawks took the first lead of the game with a three-run second inning. Molly Campbell's one-out, two-RBI double gave Seattle U a pair of runs. Breanna Timmons followed Campbell's double with one of her own to give the Redhawks a 3-0 lead. Paige Bouska capped the scoring with an RBI single to push the score to 4-0.

The 'Runners responded back immediately in the next half inning for two runs of their own. Simmons singled up the middle to lead off the third inning for CSUB. Two outs later, Gonzalez's first home run of the season cut the score to 4-2.

Over the final three innings, Alyssa Reuble allowed just one hit to the 'Runners in each inning. The SU pitcher shut down the CSUB offense while the Redhawks continued to score on Klimenko. A solo home run in the bottom of the third and a two-run fifth inning pushed the score to 7-2. Reuble held on for the win, allowing just two runs off of eight hits, three walks, and five strikeouts.

While the Roadrunners recorded eight hits in the game, no 'Runner had more than one hit. Gonzalez's home run provided the only two RBI while Bundy continued her hitting streak. The senior outfielder has recorded a hit in each of the last 13 games and has reached base safely in 20 consecutive contests.

After picking up the win in Game 1, Klimenko gave up seven runs off of eight hits while pitching 4.2 innings again. Mills finished with 1.1 innings pitched in relief, giving up three hits and no runs. Klimenko's record went to 4-7 after the doubleheader split while the 'Runners moved to 18-23. With 18 wins on the year, CSUB now has the most wins in a single season since 2010.

Bakersfield (18-23, 6-8 WAC) and Seattle U (15-33, 4-9 WAC) will return to Logan Field in Seattle on Saturday for the series finale. First pitch of Game 3 is set for 2 p.m. while you can again watch the live stream via the WAC Digital Network.

~GoRunners.com~