BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield's softball team dropped the final game of its weekend series against Saint Mary's on Sunday. The Roadrunners never trailed until a big seventh inning pushed the Gaels ahead of CSUB. SMC took the series two games to one after the two teams split a doubleheader on Saturday.

“I think our pitchers did a good job until the seventh inning,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the 'Runners. “Our hitters are not backing up our pitchers. We have got to score more runs and we have got to do a better job when we have 'Runners in scoring position. I'm looking for our upperclassmen to come to play and to come with an energy of playing for each other.”

The 'Runners used two walks and a single to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first inning. Maddi Clark drove in an RBI with a ground out as Kaylynn Burt scored from third to put the 'Runners ahead 1-0.

Saint Mary's answered right back in the top of the second inning with some help from a CSUB fielding error at second base. 'Runner starter Alley Stockton collected herself and got CSUB out of the inning, but the score was tied 1-1.

In the bottom of the third, freshman Karah Wiseman earned her first collegiate hit and RBI with a single to left field. The starting catcher's hit allowed shortstop Nadia Amezcua to score from third and moved the 'Runners ahead 2-1.

Stockton and the 'Runner defense retired 10 straight Gaels from the second inning until the fifth when a dribbler up the middle snapped the streak. Unfazed by the hit, Stockton got the 'Runners out of the inning and kept CSUB up 2-1. In the sixth, a few hard-hit balls were caught by the 'Runner defense, but prompted CSUB's leadership to go to the bullpen.

Junior Summer Evans came into the game in the top of the seventh, but the Gaels mounted a rally, putting runners on the corners with just one out. A grounder to shortstop resulted in an error that allowed Saint Mary's to tie the game up at two runs apiece. After a hit batter loaded the bases with two outs, Hailey Sparacino cleared the bases with a triple down the right field line, giving SMC a 5-2 lead.

The 'Runners were unable to mount a comeback in the bottom half of the seventh and fell to Saint Mary's. Evans took the loss after giving up the four runs in the seventh, three of which were unearned. Stockton pitched six innings while giving up one unearned run on one hit and one walk.

Freshman Cydney Curran led the 'Runners, going 2-for-4 from the plate. Five other 'Runners added a base hit while Clark and Wiseman contributed CSUB's two RBI.

With the conclusion of their five-game home stand, the Roadrunners (2-10) will have a week off before heading to Los Angeles for the CSUN/LMU Tournament, Mar. 10-12. CSUB will play five games over three days, including a tough matchup against Arizona, which is currently ranked No. 9 in NCAA Division I.

~GoRunners.com~