SEATTLE-- Kelsie Monroe (Sr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) allowed just four hits as the CSU Bakersfield softball team concluded the regular season with a 5-2 win over Seattle U. The Roadrunners (19-23, 7-8 WAC) earned their 19th win of the season, the most for a CSUB squad since 2010.

The 'Runners defeated second-place Grand Canyon in a three-game set earlier this season for just their second-ever WAC series win. Saturday marked a new first for CSUB as the squad earned its second WAC series win of the season.

Adrianna Cardoza (R-Jr., Santa Ana, Calif., La Quinta HS) showed great patience at the plate, fouling off several full-count pitches in the top of the first inning. The second baseman eventually walked and scored off of Karsyn Guzman's (So., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) single through the right side as CSUB took an early 1-0 lead.

The Redhawks tried to answer back in the bottom half of the first. Seattle U moved a runner to third with two outs, but Kelsie Monroe, who struggled in a Game 1 start, shut the door with a strikeout.

Back-to-back singles to lead off the top of the second put CSUB in great position to score. With 'Runners on the corners, Ashley Carter (Sr., Tehachapi, Calif., Tehachapi HS) scored from third after Madison Bundy (Sr., Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) was caught trying to steal second. Later, Cardoza hit a solo home run to straight away center, giving CSUB a 3-0 lead.

CSUB capitalized on multiple SU errors in the third to extend its lead. Julea Cavazos (Fr., Temecula, Calif., Temecula Valley HS) reached on an error to lead off the inning, moved to third on two wild pitches, and eventually scored on a deep grounder. Guzman also came around to score on Nicole Curry's (Fr., Martinez, Calif., Alhambra HS) sacrifice fly as the 'Runners took a 5-0 lead.

After the first inning pressure and a couple of baserunners in the second inning, Monroe shut the Seattle U offense down. From the third inning through the sixth, the senior righty allowed just three Redhawks on base, all on walks, but stranded each runner.

Down to their final three outs, the Redhawks finally cracked Monroe's code in the bottom of the seventh inning. Seattle U was down to two outs but had put two runs on the board to make the score 5-2. Monroe hit a batter to load the bases, but struck out the final batter of the game to close out the win.

Bakersfield's pitcher moved to 14-9 on the year with the complete-game win. The victory moved Monroe into a tie for first in CSUB Division I history for wins in a single season (Brittany Johnson, 2008). Monroe gave up just four hits and two runs on Saturday while striking out a season-high eight batters.

Cardoza led the 'Runners on offense, going 2-for-3 in the game. The junior second baseman's solo home run was just the first of her season and the second of her career. Five other 'Runners had hits in the game while three recorded RBI in the well-rounded offensive effort.

After Missouri Kansas-City defeated Utah Valley Saturday afternoon, the 'Runners were locked into fourth-place in the WAC standings. With the preseason coaches' poll having CSUB picked to finish sixth of six teams, the 'Runners clearly surprised the rest of the conference as they battled for third place. With Grand Canyon still ineligible for postseason play, Bakersfield has earned the third seed in the WAC Tournament which will take place May 7-9 in Las Cruces, N.M.

~GoRunners.com~