STOCKTON, Calif. – The CSU Bakersfield softball team opened the Libby Matson Tournament on Friday with a pair of games. The Roadrunners fell to Cal Poly 3-1 before dropping a 10-1, five-inning game against host Pacific.

Game 1

The 'Runners pressured Cal Poly early as CSUB put 'Runners on the corners with just one out in the bottom of the first inning. Lindsey Chalmers, the Mustangs' starting pitcher, induced a pair of ground outs to deter the threat.

Cal Poly struck first when a double by Courtney Tyler scored two Mustangs, putting CSUB down 2-0 in the top of the third. A pair of wild pitches allowed the Mustangs to score another run. Down 3-0 with the bases loaded and no outs, Lyndsay Klimenko trusted her defense and fought back to get three outs without allowing another run in the inning.

The game settled down with both teams' pitchers and defenses buckling down. The 'Runners got multiple strong defensive plays out of their infield including a line drive snagged by first baseman Briana Pontecorvo. The senior thought quickly and ran to first to double up the Mustangs.

CSUB would not go down without a fight as the 'Runners threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Redshirt senior Adrianna Cardoza singled with one out and moved to third on Amber Mills' double. Karsyn Guzman earned an RBI with a hard grounder to make the score 3-1, but the 'Runners were unable to push another run across.

The 'Runners fell to 3-3 on the year while Cal Poly improved to 8-4. Mills, who pitched the first two innings and gave up all three runs, took the loss, but went 2-for-3 at the plate for CSUB. Four other 'Runners scattered four singles as Chalmers earned the complete-game victory for Cal Poly.

Game 2

A pair of singles to open the bottom of the first led to a three-run home run for Pacific's Nicole Zapotoczny. Sydney Raeber, CSUB's starting pitcher, responded well with two outs, but gave up a pair of solo home runs as the 'Runners found themselves in a 5-0 hole early.

CSUB looked as if it would respond in the top of the second inning when Pontecorvo and Cardoza hit back-to-back singles with one out. Pacific induced a groundout which resulted in an inning-ending double play to keep its five-run lead.

Two infield singles put the 'Runners in a bind again in the bottom of the second. After recording an out, reliever Alyssa Stockton gave up a hard-hit single down the line which scored both baserunners, giving Pacific a 7-0 lead. The fourth home run of the game for the Tigers put Pacific up 10-0 after four innings.

The 'Runners fought to the end as Alex Simmons gave CSUB its first run of the game. The senior shortstop hit a double to centerfield which scored Selena Gonzalez from first. Outfielder Julea Cavazos walked after the RBI single, but CSUB was unable to keep the game going as the Tigers completed 10-1 victory in five innings.

Simmons finished the game 2-for-3 with the lone RBI for CSUB. Pontecorvo and Cardoza had the other two hits for the 'Runners in the game. Raeber took the loss, dropping to 2-1, while Marissa Young improved to 3-2 as Pacific moved to 6-6 on the season.

The Roadrunners (3-4) will return to the diamond for a pair of rematches against Cal Poly and Pacific on Saturday. CSUB will open the day with the Mustangs at 10 a.m. before taking on the Tigers at 12:15 p.m.   

~GoRunners.com~