SEATTLE, Wash. – A last-inning rally by the Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos put pressure on the CSU Bakersfield softball team, but the Roadrunners held on to claim a 4-3 victory in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday.

“We didn't panic; we didn't get freaked out,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the 'Runners. “We have gone through it in the past. Mistakes have happened, but we learned from our mistakes.”

Buck-Ziegler had high praises for her team after the victory: “Amber Mills had guts all day today. Sydney Raeber played extremely well. Offensively, we kept taking advantage and got hits when we needed to get hits. Alex Simmons played phenomenal defense.”

The 'Roos recorded three straight singles to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the second inning. A bloop single by Alex Friloux brought a run home, but the 'Runner defense shut UMKC down after that. Mills induced a pair of grounders and her defense threw out a pair of runners at home. A strikeout ended the inning and kept the UMKC lead to just 1-0.

CSUB answered right back in the top of the third inning by batting around. CSUB loaded the bases with one out thanks to a single by sophomore Julea Cavazos and a pair of walks. Designated player Selena Gonzalez delivered an RBI walk before senior Briana Pontecorvo and freshman Chris Hipa both singled to make the score 3-1. Junior Jo Larios battled through a tough at bat to draw another RBI walk and put the 'Runners ahead 4-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, the 'Roos loaded the bases with one out. Mills, CSUB's starting pitcher, recorded back-to-back strikeouts en route to striking out the side and keeping UMKC off the board. The 'Roos returned the favor in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Kaylynn Burt and redshirt senior Adrianna Cardoza both singled in the inning, but a pair of diving catches by UMKC kept the score at 4-1.

UMKC made the bottom of the seventh very interesting as a single set up a two-run home run for Katie Kelley. With the score 4-3 and no outs, Buck-Ziegler went to her senior closer, Raeber. CSUB's Division I career saves leader struck out the first two 'Roos she faced, then induced a popup to end the game.

Raeber earned her fourth save of the season, tying her own CSUB Division I single-season record and extending her own career record to eight saves. Mills, who pitched six innings while allowing three runs and striking out four 'Roos, earned her seventh victory of the season. Cavazos and Hipa led the 'Runners with a pair of hits each while Hipa drove in one of the four RBI for CSUB. Gonzalez reached base safely twice while driving in a run of her own.

CSUB moved into the winners' bracket and will face the winner of the New Mexico State/Utah Valley match up. The Roadrunners' second game of the tournament will be Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Logan Field in Seattle. As was the case on Thursday, Friday's games can be viewed for free via the WAC Digital Network.

~GoRunners.com~