SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Roadrunner softball team closed out the Santa Clara Round Robin with its second split of the tournament. On Sunday, CSU Bakersfield mounted a comeback against Dartmouth in the morning, but fell to the Big Green 6-3. The 'Runners then used an eight-run inning against the host Broncos to earn their first run-rule victory of the season in a 10-2 rout.

“The win was a nice way to end the weekend,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Bakersfield's Head Coach. “We came back against Dartmouth and our bats started answering in the second game.”

Game 1

Dartmouth got out to a quick 1-0 lead thanks to lead-off batter Katie McEachern's home run. Starter Lyndsay Klimenko rebounded well to get the 'Runners out of the first inning with just the one run scored, but struggled in the second inning.

After loading the bases, Buck-Ziegler pulled Klimenko in favor of Amber Mills. With one out, Mills walked in a run to put the Big Green ahead 2-0. The native of Fresno, Calif. induced a grounder, but a throwing error allowed a run to come around, helping DC score a third run. Maddie Damore's two-RBI single capped off the four-run inning and put Dartmouth ahead 5-0.

The second-inning woes did not rattle the 'Runner pitchers, who responded well. CSUB's hurlers went on to hold the Big Green scoreless for the next four innings. Mills allowed only three hits with striking out three batters in her 3.2 innings pitched.

Sophomore Julea Cavazos' double to lead off the bottom of the fourth gave the 'Runners their first hit of the game and set them up for their first run of the game. After two outs, Cavazos scored on redshirt senior Adrianna Cardoza's RBI single to make the score 5-1. Junior Jo Larios walked to load the bases, but Chris Hipa's liner was snagged by Dartmouth's third baseman, saving at least a pair of runs.

The 'Runners continued to chip away at the Big Green lead. CSUB added a run in the fifth to make the score 5-2. Kaylynn Burt was hit by a pitch, then reached third thanks to an error. Sydney Raeber recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to pull CSUB within two runs.

Dartmouth added an insurance run in the top of the seventh thanks to Chaw's solo blast. Trailing 6-3, Cavazos hit a lead-off single and was moved to second on a ground out. The 'Runner sophomore was stranded there as CSUB was unable to move her over and lost to the Big Green by a final count of 6-3.

All four 'Runner pitchers faced at least one batter in the game while Mills was the most effective for CSUB. Cardoza went 2-for-3 in the game with her second RBI of the season. Klimenko fell to 0-6 on the season with the loss, but her day was not over.

Game 2

Santa Clara got out to a quick start with a run in each of the first two innings. CSUB found itself down 2-0 early, but the Roadrunners were not shaken. Klimenko took over in the second inning and went on to allow no hits and one walk over 3.1 innings pitched.

A perfect storm of Santa Clara errors and CSUB offense occurred in the top of the third inning. The Broncos amassed four errors in the frame while the Roadrunners' seven hits helped CSUB tally eight runs in the inning. That total was the most runs in a single inning for the squad since Mar. 9, 2012, when the 'Runners scored eight against Maine.

In the wild third inning, junior Josie Flores' bases-loaded triple capped the scoring spree. The native of Modesto, Calif., who earned a start on Sunday, recorded the first triple in her CSUB career and more than doubled her career RBI total with one swing.

With the bases loaded in the top of the fifth, a wild pitch and an error helped the 'Runners tack on two more runs. CSUB took a 10-2 lead and its eight-run advantage set up a do-or-die situation for the Broncos.

Klimenko closed out the game with two ground outs and a pop up in the bottom of the fifth. The junior from Half Moon Bay, Calif. earned her first victory of the season and lowered her ERA to 4.54. Flores' three RBI was the most in a game for any 'Runner this season while eight women had a hit in the game for CSUB. Raeber's two hits led the 'Runners in the victory on Sunday.

The Roadrunners (6-15) will return to Bakersfield for a busy week of softball action. On Wednesday, Mar. 23, CSUB will host Cal State Fullerton in Bakersfield's home opener. The doubleheader action is set to begin at 1 p.m. at the Roadrunner Softball Complex. Unlike in years past, softball home games will be ticketed this season. Visit GoRunners.com/tix for more information and to purchase tickets in advanced.

Bakersfield will then travel to Santa Barbara, Calif. for the UCSB Gaucho Classic II next weekend. CSUB will play five more games for a total of seven contests on the week as the 'Runners gear up for Western Athletic Conference play at the beginning of April.

~GoRunners.com~