LOS ANGELES – CSU Bakersfield's best softball season in Division I history has come to an end as the Roadrunners fell to No. 17/20 Fresno State on Saturday. The loss eliminated CSUB from its first-ever NCAA Division I Regional, but the 'Runners will return to Bakersfield with their heads high after two hard-fought losses. CSUB battled back against the Bulldogs, but fell by a score of 8-5.

“I thought we did a fantastic job today,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, who completed her fifth season as Head Coach of the 'Runners on Saturday. “The first inning, we gave up four errors, which led to three runs and put us behind the eight ball. I thought we responded extremely well. Amber Mills gave us everything she had and I'm so proud of her. Then, Alyssa Stockton came in as a freshman, in her first-ever postseason, and acted like a senior.”

Fresno State jumped out to a quick lead in the top of the first inning. Four infield errors in the frame helped the Bulldogs go ahead 3-0. CSUB pressured right back in the bottom half of the first, loading the bases with two outs, but Fresno State's Jill Compton got a strike out to end the threat.

With two 'Runners in scoring position and two outs in the bottom of the second inning, Simmons, the CSUB shortstop, blooped a single into right field. The senior drove in the pair of 'Runners, cutting the Bulldog lead down to just one run.

After recording an RBI double in the first inning, Alyssa Villalpando put Fresno State ahead 4-2 in the top of the third. The third baseman hit a line drive to the left center gap for her 10th home run of the season and second RBI of the game. CSUB starter Mills was pulled from the game with two on and one out in the third. Stockton, a freshman from Delhi, Calif., came in and walked a batter to load the bases. A two-out double by Bria Kennedy cleared the bases and put Fresno State ahead 7-2.

Stockton loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth inning. A sacrifice fly would plate another run for Fresno State, but Bakersfield's freshman got the 'Runners out of the inning. CSUB trailed 8-2 after the run scored.

The 'Runners started another rally in the bottom of the fifth inning. CSUB recorded three hits to start the inning with singles coming from seniors Simmons and Sydney Raeber. Designated player Selena Gonzalez drove in Simmons and put Raeber on third with a double to the opposite gap. Sophomore Nicole Curry delivered a pinch-hit single to bring in the second run of the inning. Jo Larios, who had the clutch home run to send the 'Runners to the NCAA Tournament, hit a single up the middle and made the score 8-5. Kamalani Dung came in to relieve and got the Bulldogs out of the inning with a pair of strikeouts.

The Bulldogs threatened again in the top of the sixth, putting a pair of runners on. Stockton, making her 20th relief appearance of the season, recorded her second strikeout of the game to end the threat. In the bottom half of the sixth, Raeber sent a high fly ball deep to the gap, but it was tracked down on the warning track to end the inning.

The 'Runners came up to bat down to their final three outs in the bottom of the seventh. Fresno State's reliever struck out the side, ending CSUB's most successful season in Division I history. Stockton put together a great performance in relief, standing strong on the biggest stage of her young career. The freshman pitched 4.2 innings while allowing just three hits to the No. 17/20 Bulldogs. The righty allowed three runs, but gave her teammates time to mount the comeback.

Simmons led the 'Runners on offense in her final collegiate game. The senior shortstop went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Raeber concluded her career with a hit and a walk while playing and starting in her 199th career game, second most in CSUB Division I history in both categories. Mills and Raeber both leave behind storied legacies, ranking in CSUB's Top 5 in several statistical categories each.

With the loss, CSUB falls to 16-34 on the season. The Roadrunners road an exciting rollercoaster through a historic season. The higlights of the ride were the program's first-ever WAC Tournament championship and first-ever trip to the NCAA Regionals as a Division I program.

Buck-Ziegler and her squad will head into summer with a renewed fire to get back to Regionals in 2017: “I am extremely proud of our program and how we came in and represented in our first-ever Regional appearance. Hopefully, this is just a start for our program. We have a great Athletic Department and great support at CSUB. Not many schools have the President of their university come out and support them.”

~GoRunners.com~