DAVIS, Calif. – The Roadrunner softball team fell in its only game on Day 2 of the Aggie Kick-Off. Host UC Davis downed CSU Bakersfield 7-1 in a five-inning game that was called due to darkness.

“We need to play a little better on defense,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the 'Runners. “Offensively, we hit the ball hard, right to defenders, but we have to figure out other ways to get on base and put pressure on our opponent.”

The 'Runners got on the board first for the third straight game with a run in the top of the first inning. Alex Simmons' leadoff single gave CSUB a baserunner and the senior shortstop would eventually score from second thanks to Jo Larios' single and a fielding error by the UCD center fielder.

The Aggies answered right back in the bottom half of the inning when Alexis Carney's double put a runner in scoring position. After a walk, a double to the left center gap from Ashley Lotoszynski put UC Davis ahead 2-1. Lyndsay Klimenko, CSUB's starting pitcher, put out the fire by getting a ground out to end the inning.

UC Davis continued to pressure as three straight singles to start the bottom of the second presented a bases-loaded, no outs opportunity. A fourth single by Brianna Warner plated two Aggies but a nice relay from left fielder Kaylynn Burt to third baseman Karsyn Guzman to Chris Hipa at home gunned down the would-be third run. Carney followed the play with a sacrifice fly to add another run before Kelly Zboralske's RBI single capped off the scoring, giving Davis a 5-1 lead. Amber Mills, who earned a complete-game victory on Day 1 of the Aggie Kick-Off, came on to relieve and got the final out of the inning.

Zboralske picked up her second RBI single of the game in the bottom of the fourth to push the lead to five runs. UCD's starting first baseman was eventually gunned down by Larios when she tried to steal second, helping the 'Runners limit the damage to only one run in the inning.

The Aggies put another run on the board in the bottom of the fifth before the game was called due to darkness, making 7-1 the final score.

CSU Bakersfield (2-1) will return to La Rue Field on Sunday to close out the Aggie Kick-Off with a pair of games. The 'Runners will have a rematch with Montana starting at 8:30 a.m. and will wrap up the tournament with another game against UC Davis at 1 p.m. Live stats for both games can be found at the tournament central page.

~GoRunners.com~