DAVIS, Calif. – For the first time since the 2006 season, the CSU Bakersfield softball team has started the season 2-0. The Roadrunners got out to a fast start and held on for a win against Montana Friday morning before an extra-inning thriller against Sac State ended up a CSUB victory as well.

“We had some really good individual performances today,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the 'Runners. “When we needed to clutch up, we did. Amber threw very well in the first game and I'm happy for her that we got that first win of the year. The Syd and Lyndsay combo worked really well, too. We still need to get better in some areas, but, overall, it was a great day!”

When the 'Runners defeated Montana this morning, CSUB earned its first season-opening victory since the 2007 season. With the extra-inning win over the Hornets, Bakersfield improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2006, the last year the 'Runners were not a full-fledged member of the NCAA Division I.

Game 1

The 'Runners pounced on Montana early, taking a pair of free bases in the bottom of the first thanks to hit batters. A Julea Cavazos single mixed in helped CSUB load the bases with no outs and a Briana Pontecorvo walk gave the 'Runners their first lead of the season. Two outs later, a dropped fly ball by the Montana right fielder extended the inning. CSUB went on to score five unearned runs highlighted by catcher Jo Larios' two-RBI single.

The Grizzlies answered right back by threatening with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the second. Singles by shortstop Madeline Merritt and second baseman Gabby Martinez drove in a pair of runs for Montana, making the score 6-2 after an inning and a half.

A CSUB fielding error helped Montana keep the top of the fourth inning alive. An infield single by MaKenna McGill closed the 'Runner lead to just three runs, but pitcher Amber Mills got CSUB out of trouble by ending the inning with her second strikeout of the game.

Mills dominated the game in the final three innings, allowing only one base hit, a single, in the top of the fifth. The senior pitcher from Fresno, Calif. earned her first win of the season and Mills threw her first complete game since Feb. 14, 2015 against Southern Utah.

Sophomore Kaylynn Burt recorded the first two hits of her collegiate career in the game, going 2-for-3 to lead CSUB. Bakersfield's starting left fielder was one of six 'Runners to score a run against UM while Larios led the team with two RBI.

Game 2

CSU Bakersfield got on the board first against Sac State with a single run in the top of the third inning. After reaching on a fielder's choice, shortstop Alex Simmons stole her second base of the day and was moved to third on a grounder. Sydney Raeber, CSUB's 2015 RBI leader, drove in her first run of the season with a single to left to give the 'Runners a 1-0 lead.

Junior pitcher Lyndsay Klimenko earned the nod in Game 2 of the Aggie Kick-Off and strolled through the first three innings. The Hornets finally broke through with their first base hit in the bottom of the third, but Klimenko got the next batter to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Sac State finally got to Klimenko in the bottom of the fourth inning with RBI singles from three different women: Sasha Margulies, Kayla Papez and Nikki Gialketsis. The Hornets took a 3-1 lead as Raeber was called in to relieve and helped the 'Runners get out of the inning.

The 'Runners struck back in the top of the fifth when Cavazos doubled down the left field line and scored Simmons. CSUB cut the deficit to just one run and looked to do more damage with bases loaded and two outs, but a fly out ended the threat. The Hornets put two on base with only one out in the bottom of the sixth, but Raeber struck out the next batter and induced a line out to end the inning.

CSUB did not go down without a fight as three straight 'Runners recorded a single in the top of the seventh to load the bases with just one out. Mills, in the game as a defensive substitute in the outfield, reached on a fielding error to tie the game up at 3-3. Senior Pontecorvo earned a sacrifice fly, putting the 'Runners ahead by one run.

After getting one out in the bottom of the seventh, Raeber gave up a single followed by three straight walks to tie the game up at 4-4. The senior pitcher buckled down and finished off the Hornets to send the game into extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, the international tiebreaker rule came into effect as Karsyn Guzman was placed on second base as the last batter out. Larios singled to put 'Runners on the corners and set up Burt's sacrifice fly to give the 'Runners a 5-4 lead heading to the final three outs.

Already CSU Bakersfield's Division I career saves leader, Raeber did not let the runner placed on second shake her confidence. Pitching her fourth full inning of the game, Raeber shut down the Sac State offense with a 1-2-3 inning to earn her first win of the season.

Raeber did it all for the 'Runners in Game 2, earning the win in 4.1 innings pitched in relief while going 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. The senior only allowed three hits, one run, and struck out four Hornets from the circle. Cavazos wound up going 2-for-4 with an RBI while redshirt senior Adrianna Cardoza reached base four times on Friday with two walks and hits. Larios continued to hit well, an area in which she struggled in 2015, finishing the day 3-for-7 with two RBI and two runs scored.

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The 'Runners (2-0) will return to action at the Aggie Kick-Off on Saturday with a single game against host UC Davis. First pitch of that game is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. and a link to the live stats can be found on GoRunners.

~GoRunners.com~