NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield softball opened the Stacey Winseberg Tournament with a pair of games on Friday. The Roadrunners split their first two contests, taking a 4-2 victory over UC Davis before falling to Syracuse, 6-0.

The CSUB victory over UC Davis came as a rematch to a Feb. 13 contest in which the Aggies defeated the 'Runners 7-1. CSUB's game against Syracuse was the first all-time between the two programs while this is the third straight year the 'Runners have faced an ACC opponent (Louisville in 2015, Pittsburgh in 2014).

Game 1

The Aggies looked like they would draw first blood in the bottom of the first inning after lead-off batter Brianna Warner reached base on a walk, stole second, and was sacrificed over to third with just one out. CSUB's defense backed up starting pitcher Amber Mills when a grounder to second baseman Adrianna Cardoza was scooped up and nailed Warner at the plate.

UC Davis did eventually take the first lead of the game on Kelly Zboralske's RBI single in the bottom of the second. The base hit scored Christina Guidry from second to give the Aggies a 1-0 lead. A two-out RBI single from Alexis Carney helped increase the UC Davis lead in the fourth. Carney's hit to left field brought home Guidry to put the Aggies ahead 2-0 with three innings to play.

The 'Runners finally broke through with a big sixth inning. Shortstop Alex Simmons led off the inning with her second hit of the game. Sophomore Julea Cavazos doubled to put two on before Sydney Raeber drove in her fifth RBI of the season. After Cavazos came around on a passed ball, Raeber eventually scored on Cardoza's RBI grounder to put the 'Runners ahead 3-2. CSUB continued to pressure, loading the bases thanks to hits from Selena Gonzalez and Chris Hipa and a walk by Mills, but UC Davis stopped the bleeding at three runs.

CSUB used the top of the seventh to add an insurance run and take a 4-2 lead. A sacrifice bunt by Cavazos set Raeber up for her second RBI of the game, which she delivered with a double to the gap. Simmons scored on the play after reaching base safely for the third time in the game to push the 'Runner lead to two runs.

Freshman pitcher Alyssa Stockton came in and got one out in the bottom of the sixth, but Mills came back in to finish off the final five Aggies. Mills improved to 2-1 on the season and finished the game with 6.2 innings pitched, three hits, two runs, three walks, and a career-high tying five strikeouts.

Simmons went 2-for-3 in the game and reached base safely three times with a hit by pitch. She scored two runs for the 'Runners while Raeber had two RBI in the game. Cavazos was 2-for-2 with a run and two sacrifices. CSUB improved to 4-7 while UC Davis fell to 8-9 with the loss.

Game 2

The Syracuse offense struck early and often, scoring at least one run in five of the seven innings. Andrea Bombace's home run drew first blood, putting the Orange up by one run. Her solo shot came in the top of the second as the long ball continued to plague the 'Runners. In the top of the third, starter Lyndsay Klimenko gave up a two-run shot to designated player Sydney O'Hara, giving Syracuse a 3-0 lead over CSUB.

Raeber came in to relieve Klimenko in the top of the fourth and promptly struck out Bombace. A hit batter proved costly for the 'Runners as a fielding error later in the inning would allow that baserunner to score. Corinne Ozanne would add another run with her solo shot in the fifth, Syracuse's third homer of the game, to make the score 5-0.

The Orange tacked on a sixth run in the top of the seventh thanks to Hannah Dossett's sacrifice fly. The 'Runners did not go down without a fight as Gonzalez doubled to the left center gap in the final half inning. CSUB's designated player wound up at third after a wild pitch, but was stranded there.

Syracuse's starting pitcher, Jocelyn Cater, finished off the complete-game shutout with a fly ball. The lefty gave up only three hits, no walks, and one hit batter, while striking out four 'Runners in the victory. Cavazos and Raeber had the other two hits in the game for CSUB, a pair of singles.

Raeber pitched well in relief, allowing only three hits, two earned runs, and no walks. She also struck out four in her four innings pitched, bringing the senior's season total to a team-high 19 strikeouts. Syracuse improved to 7-7 on the year with the victory while CSUB dropped to 4-8.

The 'Runners will return to play two more games tomorrow at the Stacey Winseberg Tournament. First pitch of Game 1 against CSUN is set for noon while the 'Runners will play the night cap in Los Angeles against UC Santa Barbara at 6 p.m.

~GoRunners.com~