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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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NicoleCurryDD02
David Dennis / All-Star Sports Photography
2
Montana UM 1-4
3
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 2-1
Montana UM
1-4
2
Final
3
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
2-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Montana UM 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 6 2
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 3 8 0

W: Azevedo, Kiara (2-1) L: Hood (0-1)

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Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 3-1
2
Sacramento State SAC 2-2
Winner
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
3-1
10
Final
2
Sacramento State SAC
2-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 0 2 0 0 0 1 7 10 11 1
Sacramento State SAC 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 4 6

W: Azevedo, Kiara (3-1) L: Main, Jensen (0-2)

Game Recap: Softball |

CSUB Earns Two Wins to Close Opening Weekend 3-1



SACRAMENTO, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield's softball team did not let Saturday's rainout spoil the weekend as the Roadrunners finished off the NorCal Kickoff with a pair of victories on Sunday. CSUB earned a 3-2, come-from-behind victory over Montana to start the morning before handing tournament host Sacramento State a loss in the final game thanks to a seven-run seventh inning. With the wins, the `Runners opened the 2019 season with a 3-1 record, their best start since moving to NCAA Division I in 2008.

"Kiara Azevedo came in and shut the door in the first game," said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the `Runners. "We had her in some pressure situations a couple times and she stepped up to the challenge. That goes for all of our pitchers. She did a good job of moving the ball around the zone. They came back in the bottom of the sixth but she kept her composure."

The `Runners utilized the arm of freshman Azevedo in all four games on the weekend and the native of Los Banos, Calif. wound up with a 3-1 record. The lefty came up clutch in relief multiple times including inducing a pair of bases-loaded, inning-ending double plays.

Buck-Ziegler went on to applaud the CSUB defense and talked about the big inning that burst the game open against Sacramento State: "Five double plays in one day, that's got to be a record for us. We knew we had to absorb some punches and then throw some punches back. We got the bats rolling there in the seventh inning with the start of our lineup and the ball kind of bounced our way today."

"To beat Sac State," Buck-Ziegler continued, "the Big Sky Champion, they are a wonderfully coached team and scout opponents well. That's a big win for us to beat them on the road. We have good momentum going into Northridge. We'll have some tough opponents, but I really like how we're gelling right now."

On the offensive side of the scorebook, senior Paige Johnson went 5-for-12 (.417) with three walks for a .533 on-base percentage to lead the `Runners on Opening Weekend. CSUB enjoyed production up and down the lineup as eight different `Runners tallied at least one RBI including three from senior Chris Hipa. Bakersfield has a fairly new squad that saw 17 different players take the field with eight of those student-athletes making their CSUB debuts this weekend.

CSUB 3, Montana 2

The `Runners created a quality scoring opportunity in the bottom of the first inning. After a leadoff groundout, Johnson and Kayla Tadewosian recorded back-to-back singles and Nicole Curry walked to load the bases. UM pitched Michaela Hood snared a line drive comebacker and was able to pick off CSUB for an inning-ending double play.

Montana struck first for a couple of runs in the top of the third inning. First baseman Cami Sellers plated the first run of the game with an RBI double before scoring on Maygen McGrath's triple. Coach Buck-Ziegler called on Avery Fitch to get the final two outs of the frame and the freshman got the job done, limiting the damage to just two runs.

In the bottom half of the third, the `Runners took advantage of a defensive miscue by the Grizzlies. Cydney Curran, a junior from Ewa Beach, Hawai'i, came around to score on the error, cutting CSUB's deficit in half. The `Runners had an opportunity to tie the game with Johnson on third base and only one out in the bottom of the fifth, but a line out followed by fly ball kept the Grizzlies ahead 2-1.

Curran got the opportunity to make another big contribution to the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Outfielder Nadia Amezcua sat on third with two outs and Curran legged out an infield single, tying the score at two runs apiece.

In the top of the seventh, the Grizzlies loaded the bases with one out, prompting Buck-Ziegler to go to Azevedo in the bullpen. The freshman induced a grounder and flipped over to catcher Karah Wiseman for the second out, who threw down to Nicole Curry at first to complete the double play, getting the `Runners out of a jam.

Looking to avoid its first extra-inning game of the season, CSUB started the bottom of the seventh on a great note. Johnson, a senior third baseman, drew a one-out walk and quickly advanced to second on a stolen base. Curry, a fellow senior playing close to her hometown of Martinez, Calif., singled to center field and Johnson wheeled around to score for a walk-off victory.

CSUB's 3-2 win marks Bakersfield's first walk-off since March of 2018 when a Johnson RBI single put Bakersfield past San Diego. The `Runners outhit Montana 8-6 on Sunday morning with Johnson and Curran both going 2-for-3. The former added a walk and two stolen bases against the Grizzlies.

Hipa was the starting pitcher for CSUB, going 2.1 innings while allowing the two Montana runs. Fitch and sophomore Julie Lewis each threw two scoreless innings in relief while Azevedo improved to 2-1 on the season after picking up the victory.

CSUB 10, Sacramento State 2

In the top of the second inning, Amezcua recorded a single and the Hornets' right fielder misplayed the ball, allowing Bakersfield's senior to advance all the way to third base. Catcher Karah Wiseman grounded out, driving in the run to put CSUB ahead 1-0. A couple more Sac State errors helped put a pair of speedy `Runners on the corners with two outs. Freshman Ally Miller and redshirt freshman Katie Jackson pulled off a double steal as the latter was able to slide under the tag at home plate, giving the `Runners a 2-0 advantage on the Hornets.

Sacramento State, which scored a combined total of 28 runs in its first three games of the tournament, looked primed to get back on the score board in the bottom half of the second. The Hornets had the bases loaded before Lewis, CSUB's Game 2 starter, induced a pop up for the first out of the frame. Coach Buck-Ziegler again went to the bullpen, calling on Azevedo to come up clutch and the freshman delivered with another inning-ending double play. Azevedo and the Hornet pitching staff then got into a pitchers' duel with neither team able to break through until late in the game.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Hornets put up their first run on an RBI double by Mo Spieth. Hipa was able to turn a savvy double play to record a pair of outs, but Sac State then got another RBI double to cut CSUB's lead to just one run.

The `Runners responded with an explosive top of the seventh, scoring seven runs in the frame while blowing the game open. After Johnson, Miller, and Tadewosian loaded the bases, Makayla Lopez delivered a pinch hit, two-RBI single to put CSUB ahead 5-2. Hipa came up next and drove in two more runs with an RBI single before Amezcua's double to the gap plated Hipa for a 8-2 lead.

Later, Curran flew around the bases for an RBI triple before Miller came back up again and blooped a single into left to cap CSUB's huge inning. The seven-spot helped CSUB reach 10 runs in a game for the first time since scoring 10 against Utah Valley last March.

Azevedo came back out to finish the game off and made quick work of the Hornets, getting a couple of fly balls before inducing a pop up for the third out. The freshman from Los Banos, Calif. finished off the weekend with a 3-1 record after pitching 5.2 innings in relief in the final game. Azevedo also fanned five Hornets, the most by a CSUB pitcher since Daryn Hitzel struck out six against San Diego last March.

From the leadoff position, Miller, a Bakersfield native, went 3-for-4 against the Hornets while adding a walk as well. Amezcua tallied a pair of hits against Sac State and Hipa and Lopez chipped in a pair of RBI each. On the day, Lewis and Fitch combined for 5.1 scoreless innings of work in the circle.

Next Week

The `Runners (3-1) trade Northern California for Southern California next week as CSUB is set to take on the CSUN Early Bird Classic. CSUB will play five games over three days, Feb. 15-17., including a three-game set with the Binghamton Bearcats from Vestal, N.Y. The `Runners will close out the tournament with games against Army West Point and host CSUN.
~GoRunners.com~
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