BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A defensive battle went to extra innings as the CSU Bakersfield softball team fell to UC Riverside at the Roadrunner Softball Complex on Tuesday. The 'Runners forced an eighth inning with a run in the bottom of the seventh, but the Highlanders took a 3-1 victory.

“I think we did an excellent job,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the 'Runners. “We really worked our process. We just have to keep being patient. We got a little impatient at the end, but, I was proud of our team. I thought we did a good job, all in all. Good, solid defense.”

Senior Amber Mills pitched seven and two-thirds of the eight innings for CSUB, scattering six hits while allowing three runs with only one earned run. “I thought Amber threw one of the best performances she has had this year,” said Buck-Ziegler. “She did a good job, holding their hitters pretty hitless throughout the game.”

UC Riverside pressured early, putting a runner 60 feet from scoring with only one out in both the first and third innings. Both times, CSUB used strong defensive plays to get out of trouble. In the first, second baseman Adrianna Cardoza fielded a grounder, tagged the runner heading to second, and converted CSUB's 18th double play of the season. In the third inning, third baseman Chris Hipa snagged a hard grounder and dove back to the bag to pick off the lead runner and keep the game scoreless.

After the early pressure, Mills and the 'Runners settled down, retiring seven straight Highlanders and sitting the UC Riverside side down in order in both the fourth and fifth innings. Cardoza led off the bottom of the fifth with a double down the left field line. CSUB was unable to convert on the scoring opportunity as the scoreboard remained blank through five complete innings.

The Highlanders finally broke through in the top of the sixth inning. Madeline Richard, the UCR leadoff batter who finished the game batting over .500, was on second base, but got caught in a rundown. An errant throw allowed Richard to come around and score to give the Highlanders a 1-0 lead.

The 'Runners continued the trend of fighting to the end of games with a seventh-inning rally. Senior Michelle Cannata drew a pinch-hit walk and her pinch runner, Josie Flores, moved to second on Cardoza's ground ball. Sophomore Julea Cavazos delivered an RBI single to tie the game at one run apiece and moved into scoring position on Alex Simmons' single. With two outs and the winning run on second base, UCR's starter, Tayler Misfeldt, recorded a strikeout to send the game into extra innings.

With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, UCR's last batter out was placed on second to begin the top of the eighth inning. A sacrifice bunt and a failed attempt to get the lead runner out put runners on the corners for UCR. Shortstop Hannah Rodriguez's bloop single put the Highlanders ahead 2-1 before a bases-loaded comebacker bounced off of Mills and went for an RBI infield single for Jenna Curtan. Senior Sydney Raeber came on to relieve and got the final UCR batter to fly out.

Down 3-1 with three outs remaining, CSUB also had a runner placed on second, but lost that advantage when a fielder's choice ended up gunning down the lead runner. The 'Runners rallied again, moving a baserunner to third, but Misfeldt got the final out to preserve the 3-1 victory.

Mills took the loss after pitching a solid 7.2 innings and striking out three Highlanders. Misfeldt earned the complete-game victory for UC Riverside (27-12-1) while allowing seven hits and three walks to the 'Runners. Cavazos and Simmons both had two hits on the day while Cavazos had CSUB's lone RBI. Tuesday's loss was CSUB's second extra-inning loss of the season after falling to Purdue, 6-3, in eight innings on Feb. 28.

The Roadrunners (10-26, 2-4 WAC) will stay home this weekend for their third Western Athletic Conference series of the season. CSUB will welcome Seattle U to the Roadrunner Softball Complex for a three-game series beginning on Friday, Apr. 15. For information on tickets, visit GoRunners.com/tix.

~GoRunners.com~