LOS ANGELES, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield's softball team played two more games at the Stacey Winseberg Tournament on Saturday. The 'Runners dropped both games, first, a 5-3 loss to CSUN, then a 7-4 defeat at the hands of UC Santa Barbara.

After the games, Head Coach Crissy Buck-Ziegler, stressed that her 'Runners are starting to show signs of a strong team: “Although we didn't get the wins, the way we played together is where we need to start. I really liked the fight and how we are coming together.”

Game 1

The 'Runners got out to a quick start against CSUN with a run in the top of the first inning. Sophomore Julea Cavazos was bumped up to the lead-off spot for the first time, a choice that paid dividends when she singled up the middle. After Cavazos stole second, Sydney Raeber's RBI double plated the first run of the game to put CSUB ahead 1-0.

In the top of the fourth, Chris Hipa led off with a single. The freshman wound up on third base after a bizarre play involving a wild pitch and a throwing error. Bakersfield capitalized on CSUN's miscues when Josie Flores drove her second career RBI for the 'Runners as her single put the junior's team ahead 2-0.

CSUN answered back with a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity in the bottom half of the fourth. CSUB's starting pitcher, Amber Mills, plunked her second straight batter for one run, then gave up an RBI single as the Matadors tied the score. The senior pitcher induced a grounder by the next batter, which first baseman Briana Pontecorvo fired home for a force out. Mills got a pop up to end the inning and keep the game tied at 2-2.

Singles by Cavazos and Raeber sandwiching a sacrifice bunt by Adrianna Cardoza put 'Runners on the corners in the top of the fifth. After CSUN's reliever, Daphne Pofek, got a 'Runner swinging for the second out, Pontecorvo came up with a clutch RBI single to drive in Cavazos. Raeber was thrown out at the plate trying to make it two runs, but the 'Runners reclaimed the lead at 3-2.

A fielding error allowed CSUN's lead-off batter, Savannah Horvath, to reach safely in the bottom of the sixth. The error would prove to be costly as Horvath eventually scored on an infield single. Later in the inning, Katie Hooper's two-run home run would give CSUN a 5-3 lead thanks to three unearned runs.

Down to its final three outs, CSUB attempted to start a rally when Cavazos singled with one out. The hit was her third of the game, one shy of her single-game high, but would be the last hit of the game for the 'Runners. CSUB fell to 4-9 with the loss while CSUN improved to 10-8.

Mills (2-2) took the tough loss in the circle despite pitching six innings and giving up only one earned run off of five scattered hits and no walks. Cavazos went 3-for-4 in the game, scoring two runs and picking up a stolen base. Raeber also went 3-for-4, had an RBI double, and a stolen base as well.

Game 2

For the second time on Saturday, the 'Runners took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. This time, CSUB took advantage of a UC Santa Barbara error. Cardoza singled, moved over a base on a fielding error, and scored on Gonzalez's RBI single to left center.

The game remained quiet until the top of the fourth inning when UCSB exploded for six runs. The 'Runners gave up another run in the top of the fifth to go down 7-1, but started a comeback in the bottom half of the inning.

Buck-Ziegler called to the bench for Nadia Amezcua to pinch hit and the freshman delivered. Amezcua sent a ball over the left field wall to give the 'Runners their first of two runs in the inning and CSUB's first home run of the season. Alex Simmons singled later in the inning, stole second, and eventually scored on a throwing error to push the score to 7-3.

The 'Runners added a run in the bottom of the sixth as well, to cut the deficit to just three runs. Gonzalez led off with a double, her second hit of the game, and eventually scored on the third error of the game for the Gauchos.

CSUB loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but a close play at the plate stopped the fifth run from scoring for the 'Runners. Then, a strikeout ended CSUB's thoughts of a comeback as well as the game.

Raeber started in the circle for CSUB and took the loss (2-2) after pitching 3.2 innings and giving up six runs to the Gauchos. Freshman Alyssa Stockton came in to relieve and pitched well, giving up only four hits over 3.1 innings and allowing just one run. Gonzalez was 2-for-4 in the game with an RBI while Cavazos drove in her fourth run of the season. UCSB improved to 10-8 on the season while the 'Runners fell to 4-10.

The Roadrunners will return to Matador Field in Northridge, Calif. tomorrow for the final game of the tournament. CSUB will have a rematch with UC Santa Barbara. First pitch is set for noon in Southern California.

~GoRunners.com~