BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Roadrunners dropped a doubleheader to Grand Canyon on Senior Day despite valiant efforts from CSU Bakersfield seniors Amber Mills and Sydney Raeber.

“Sydney and Amber are two people that have really grown the most in the program and have grown significantly in their four years,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the 'Runners. “They take everything that we have taught them and are really trying to execute. Amber was really trying to go after them. I'm really happy with Syd and the way she is throwing.”

“This was good, because, in some ways, this can resemble the WAC Tournament,” said Buck-Ziegler after the pair of losses. “When you put all the pressure on yourself and you don't rely on your team, this is exactly the outcome that is going to happen. When we play as a team like when he had against Seattle and even New Mexico State, that's when we play up to who we are.”

Game 1

The 'Lopes got out to a fast start after loading the bases with one out in the top of the first. Briielle Breland doubled down the right field line to drive in a pair of runs. Sierra Smith's single through the right side scored another run and would have made the score 4-0, but right fielder Julea Cavazos fired home to gun the runner down for the second out. CSUB starter Lyndsay Klimenko induced a fly ball for the final out, but GCU took a 3-0 lead out of the gate.

CSUB pressured back right away, putting 'Runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom half of the first inning. The 'Lopes managed to get out of trouble with a groundout and extended their lead in the top of the second with another pair of runs. In the top of the fourth, Brittany Medina drove in another run with her RBI single. The right fielder's hit put Grand Canyon ahead 6-0.

CSUB finally came to life in the bottom of the fifth inning. A walk by redshirt senior Adrianna Cardoza sandwiched between a pair of singles by Josie Flores and Cavazos loaded the bases with no outs. After senior Alex Simmons walked in a run, fellow senior Sydney Raeber delivered a bases-clearing triple to bring the score to 6-4.

Down to the final three outs of the game, CSUB started a rally and eventually put 'Runners on the corners. Grand Canyon snuffed out the comeback and claimed a 6-4 victory. GCU's Taylor Nowlin earned her second win of the series while Bailey Bergman earned a three-inning save.

Raeber led the team, going 2-for-4 in the game with three RBI thanks to the center fielder's first triple of the season. Also CSUB's closer, Raeber pitched the final 3.1 innings, retiring 10 of the 11 batters she faced and striking out three 'Lopes.

Cavazos went 3-for-4 with her 15th multi-hit game of the season, which leads all 'Runners this year. Josie Flores earned a pinch-hit single while going 1-for-2 in the game as a substitute in right field. Klimenko took the loss, dropping to 2-10, after pitching 1.2 innings and giving up five runs.

Game 2

After three quiet innings thanks to strong defense from both sides, Medina put the 'Lopes on the board in the top of the fourth inning. The designated players' fourth hit of the day gave GCU a 1-0 lead with one out. A fielding error allowed two more 'Lopes to come around and score as Grand Canyon extended its lead to 3-0.

The 'Runners settled down as Mills pitched well through the sixth inning. The senior starter ran into trouble in the top of the seventh when she loaded the bases with no outs. A savvy, 3-2-4 double play helped get two 'Lopes out, but a passed ball allowed one run to score. Grand Canyon took a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

With one out, Cavazos recorded her fourth hit of the day when the sophomore singled to left. The next two 'Runners were retired as senior Kailey Regester finished off the complete-game shutout. GCU's starter allowed only three hits to CSUB while striking out four 'Runners.

Simmons and Cavazos had two hits for the 'Runners while Selena Gonzalez, who had been out for three weeks with a concussion, got a pinch-hit single in her return. Mills threw a solid game, allowing four runs in her fourth complete game of the season while only one run was earned.

“We have to get back to our process and get back to who we are,” said Buck-Ziegler about how to proceed. “We will just keep swinging away and we will go after it.”

The regular season has come to an end as the 'Runners (13-32, 5-10 WAC) are headed to the WAC Tournament. After a bye week, CSUB and the rest of the conference will meet in Seattle, Wash., May 12-14, to fight for the WAC crown and a bid to the NCAA Regionals.

The 'Runners finished the season in fourth place in the WAC and earned the No. 3 seed at the Tournament. In two weeks, CSUB's first round opponent in the double-elimination tournament will be Missouri-Kansas City.

~GoRunners.com~