BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Fresh off of its first-ever Western Athletic Conference series sweep, the CSU Bakersfield softball team is prepared to charge full steam ahead into Las Cruces, N.M. for a series with the conference-leading NM State Aggies.
“This week will be a real test for us,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the Roadrunners. “New Mexico State is coming off a great weekend against a tough Grand Canyon team. We know that it is always a challenge to play in Las Cruces, but we are looking forward to the matchup.”
CSUB and NMSU have met 14 times in the two programs' histories, including six times during the 2015 season. On Apr. 18, 2015, the 'Runners earned their first win over the Aggies since joining the WAC. CSUB followed it up with an upset victory in the WAC Tournament before meeting the Aggies again in the Championship games. NMSU took the first Championship game 7-4 before claiming a wild, 18-10 victory to advance to the NCAA Regionals.
NM State (29-19, 8-1 WAC) comes into the weekend having won six of its last seven games. Freshman Kelsey Horton leads the squad with a .395 batting average, 13 home runs, and 47 runs scored. The Aggie lineup is prosperous as the team hits a combined .345 and has 42 home runs on the season. Redshirt senior Karysta Donisthrope leads NMSU in the circle with a 2.78 ERA and 100.2 innings pitched.
In order to stop the NMSU offense, the Roadrunner pitching staff will need to be on point. Senior Amber Mills has been the most effective starter, posting a career-best ERA of 2.54 on the season in 102.0 innings pitched. Senior Sydney Raeber has been effective as a reliever and junior Lyndsay Klimenko is having her best season yet while starting the majority of games that Mills does not.
The 'Runner offense is currently led by sophomore Julea Cavazos. The outfielder from Temecula, Calif. exploded against Seattle U this past weekend while her performance earned her CollegeSportsMadness.com WAC Player of the Week honors. Cavazos is batting .389 to lead CSUB while Raeber provides the power with a team-high 18 RBI and nine doubles.
CSUB and NMSU will meet under the lights at the NM State Softball Complex. The first game of the series is set for 5 p.m. (PT) on Friday, Apr. 22. The series will conclude with a doubleheader on Saturday with first pitch of Game 1 scheduled for 3 p.m. (PT). Live stats for the series can be found here while Friday's game will be streamed live on both the WAC Digital Network and ESPN3.
~GoRunners.com~
