STANFORD, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield's softball team opened the Stanford Easton Classic on Friday with a pair of games. The Roadrunners fell in a close game against Wagner College to open the tournament before dropping their contest against host Stanford to close the day.
"This game is going to keep testing us and pushing us," said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the `Runners. "We cannot and will not break. We are going to keep building on who we are and our foundation."
The `Runners came up just short in a comeback attempt in the first game of the tournament as Wagner was able to hold off CSUB for a 3-2 victory. Against Stanford, the `Runners were overpowered by the Cardinal offense in an 8-0, five-inning loss.
Game 1
CSUB and Wagner played through four scoreless innings to start the game. The Seahawks finally broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, plating two runs on four hits. Wagner tacked on an insurance run in the next inning, which proved to be vitally important.
Down to their final three outs, the `Runners started a rally with three straight singles from Jocelyn Betancourt, Karah Wiseman, and Chris Hipa. The final single in the string drove in CSUB's first run of the game before Maddi Clark's ground out drove in another run. The next two `Runners were retired and CSUB's comeback was stopped in its tracks as Wagner took a 3-2 victory.
On the game, Hipa led the offense, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Four other `Runners added hits in the game for a total of six. Starting pitcher Summer Evans pitched 4.2 innings while allowing seven hits and two earned runs. Kaycee Olson came in to relieve and pitched the final 1.1 innings while giving up three hits and a run to Wagner.
Game 2
Stanford struck early with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. In the fifth, the Cardinal added five more runs before CSUB freshman Daryn Hitzel was removed from the circle. Evans came on to relieve and pitched well over the final 3.1 innings, scattering seven hits while allowing just one run to Stanford. When Stanford took an 8-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth, the game was called due to the run rule.
Back in the leadoff spot, senior Julea Cavazos was 1-for-1 with a pair of walks as the outfielder's team-best batting average rose to .357. Hipa got on base with a walk of her own while Clark and Betancourt each had hits against Stanford.
The `Runners (1-14) will return for another pair of games at the Stanford Easton Classic on Saturday. CSUB and Stanford will face off at 2:30 p.m. and the `Runners will wrap up the day in a rematch with Wagner at 5 p.m.
~GoRunners.com~
