SEATTLE – For the first time in CSU Bakersfield's Division I history, the Roadrunner softball team has advanced to the NCAA Regionals. CSUB defeated top-seeded New Mexico State 1-0 in the Championship game of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament in dramatic fashion on Saturday afternoon.

The title game was a pitchers' duel from start to finish as CSUB's starter, Amber Mills, pitched a complete-game shutout, her first of the season. The Aggies pressured in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with one out, but Mills and the 'Runners held off NMSU to keep the game scoreless heading into the final inning.

In the top of the seventh, with two outs and a full count, junior Jo Larios delivered the first home run of her two-year CSUB career. The catcher's solo shot to left center lifted the 'Runners to a 1-0 lead and Mills made sure that the Aggies, who came into the WAC Tournament with the seventh-best team batting average in the country (.346), would not mount a comeback.

“It was a great game,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the 'Runners. With emotion rattling her voice, she continued to praise her team's gritty performances in the Tournament: “We had three games winning by one run. That's how our program has been for the last five years. We either win by one or we lose by one. It kind of brings everything together in this moment. It's a little surreal.”

Buck Ziegler, Bakersfield's fifth-year coach and a former national champion at UCLA, went on to highlight the team's leaders: “Amber, at this time last year, said 'Coach, I want to be on that field. I don't want to be in the dugout anymore,' and she put in the hard work. I'm just so proud of Amber, Sydney Raeber, Jo, and just all of our seniors. Alex Simmons played great shortstop, Adrianna Cardoza playing great at second; I'm just proud of all of them. Hell of a job by Shelly Prochaska coming in as a pitching coach, turning these guys around, and shutting down New Mexico State's great, awesome offense.”

Sophomore Julea Cavazos hit a bloop single to left field on the first pitch of the game and ended up on second thanks to an error by the Aggies. A sacrifice bunt by Alex Simmons moved Bakersfield's left fielder to third. With two outs, NMSU's starter, Karysta Donisthorpe recorded her 22nd strikeout of the tournament to keep the 'Runners off the board.

In the bottom of the second inning, Raeber's athleticism showed up in the outfield. Bakersfield's senior chased a fly ball in the right center gap and made a diving grab to rob a certain double from NMSU. The next batter sent a fly ball to the opposite gap, but Raeber ran that one down as well, making the grab off of her shoelaces to keep the Aggies off the bases.

The pitching duel ensued as both Donisthorpe and Mills continued to deal. Unlike in CSUB's previous game, Mills and the 'Runner defense kept the Aggies off of the base paths until late in the game.

The Aggies finally put some pressure on the 'Runners in the bottom of the sixth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Mills struck out Tatum Reedy, one of the hottest hitters in the tournament. CSUB's starter then induced a fly ball to left field to get the 'Runners out of the bases-loaded jam.

Larios' clutch home run in the top of the seventh put the 'Runners ahead 1-0. CSUB's catcher and her defense went back out on the field to get the final three outs. NMSU's first two batters grounded out and Mills caught a pinch hitter looking for her fourth strikeout of the game. The strikeout also gave Mills the 110th of her career, moving the native of Fresno, Calif. into fifth in CSUB Division I history for the 'Runners.

Bakersfield's senior starter improved to 9-14 on the season and is now ranked third for the 'Runners with 323.2 innings pitched in her four-year career. Raeber, Simmons, Cardoza, and Larios anchored the 'Runner defense that backed Mills up, holding the Aggies to just four hits and one walk in the game.

The 'Runner fielders had a career day as freshman Chris Hipa recorded a season-high six assists from third base. A day after recording nine putouts from left field, sophomore Kaylynn Burt pulled down another pair of fly balls on Saturday. Cavazos had one of CSUB's three hits and used her arm to record her sixth outfield assist of the season. Junior Selena Gonzalez drew her team-high 15th walk of the season and now has 35 in her 'Runner career, tied for fifth-best in CSUB DI history.

With the 'Runners advancing to the NCAA Division I Regionals for the first time in program history, Buck-Ziegler expressed great pride in her team: “This is big. This is the vision I had, that we were going to make it to an NCAA Regional. I'm just so proud because we never stopped believing. We have a good team, they're a good group, and they just have this special gift.”

CSUB's softball team will see its name announced on the NCAA Softball Selection Show, scheduled for Sunday evening. The national broadcast will begin at 7 p.m. (PT) as the Roadrunners anxiously await their Regional opponents. Stay tuned to @CSUBAthletics on Twitter for more information on tomorrow's activities as the 'Runners return to Bakersfield.

~GoRunners.com~