STOCKTON, Calif. – The CSU Bakersfield softball team continued the Libby Matson Tournament, hosted by Pacific, with a pair of rematches on Saturday. The Roadrunners were swept again as Cal Poly downed the 'Runners 5-0 before Pacific took down CSUB 8-0 in five innings.

“This game is challenging us,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the 'Runners. “I believe that we will get better from this and so does this team.”

Game 1

The 'Runners were unable to get their offense going against Cal Poly's pitcher, Sierra Hyland, who was the Big West Pitcher of the Year as a freshman and NFCA All-Region as a sophomore. The right hander scattered a pair of singles against CSUB while striking out 10 Roadrunners on Saturday, extending her NCAA Division I leading strikeout total.

Cal Poly came out swinging in the bottom of the first against CSUB's starter, Alyssa Stockton. Two singles followed by a double from Hyland resulted in a 1-0 lead for Cal Poly. A sacrifice fly ball, followed by a strange base-running gaff by Cal Poly, put the 'Runners in a 2-0 hole but limited the damage by ending the inning.

Stockton got through Cal Poly easily in the second inning, but struggled in the third. The freshman pitcher allowed two more singles and a double by first baseman Breana West as three more runs came across. Senior pitcher Sydney Raeber came on to relieve and got the 'Runners out of the inning trailing 5-0.

Raeber kept the Cal Poly bats quiet through the next two innings. The senior from Hanford, Calif. got some help from her defense in the bottom of the fifth. After allowing a one-out walk, Raeber got a Mustang to line out to Alex Simmons. The senior shortstop fired back over to first and doubled up Cal Poly to get CSUB out of the inning unscathed.

Stockton came back out to pitch the bottom of the sixth and showed great poise. The native of Delhi, Calif. retired the Mustangs in order while keeping the ball in the infield with a pop up and two grounders.

Down to their final three outs, sophomore Julea Cavazos gave the 'Runners a chance to score with a lead-off single through the left side. Raeber walked to put a runner in scoring position, but a line out turned into a double play as the Roadrunner momentum was stifled. Briana Pontecorvo walked to put 'Runners on the corners, but Hyland got the final out to preserve the shutout victory.

Stockton took the loss in Game 1 as she dropped to 0-2 this season and CSUB fell to 3-5. Raeber pitched 2.1 innings in relief, giving up a hit and two walks but allowing no runs to score. Redshirt senior Adrianna Cardoza and Cavazos had the lone hits of the day for CSUB. Hyland led the Mustangs in the circle as well as at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI.

Game 2

The Tigers took advantage of a lead-off walk in the bottom of the first inning as Sydney Lahners gave Pacific a 2-0 lead on a home run. The 'Runners looked as if they would respond in the top of the second as CSUB put 'Runners on the corners with no outs. Two grounders and a strikeout would prevent CSUB from cutting into the Tigers' lead.

In the bottom of the second, a throwing error allowed one Tiger to come around and score and put runners on second and third with no outs for Pacific. Already leading 3-0 and looking to put the game out of reach for CSUB, Pacific was subdued by the 'Runner defense. Second baseman Cardoza gathered two hard grounders, held the runners, and threw out the batters before shortstop Simmons' over-the-shoulder grab got CSUB out of the inning.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, Pacific's Haylee Moran-Rowen hit a triple off the center field wall. What should have been a bases-clearing triple turned into just two runs when Raeber's throw into to the infield was relayed by Cardoza. The second baseman threw out the runner trying to score from first to keep the 'Runners down just 5-0.

Freshman Nadia Amezcua reached base for the first time in her young collegiate career with a pinch hit walk in the top of the fifth, but the 'Runners were unable to bring her home. In the bottom half of the inning, a lead-off double set the Tigers up for a big inning. Pacific got two RBI singles and a ground out RBI it needed to complete the 8-0, run-rule victory over CSUB.

Klimenko pitched four innings and took the loss, dropping to 0-2 on the season, while CSUB fell to 3-6. Pacific improved to 7-6 this year with the victory.

CSU Bakersfield will face Purdue in the final game of the Libby Matson Tournament tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.

~GoRunners.com~