`Runners Headed North for Silicon Valley Classic

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A couple of rained out games and an extra-inning loss last weekend has CSU Bakersfield's softball team itching to get back on the diamond. The Roadrunners are headed for five games in Northern California at the Silicon Valley Classic, co-hosted by Santa Clara and San José State, Feb. 22-24.

"After the last game against Army, the team is ready to get back out there and play," said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, CSUB's Head Coach. "I like how we are coming together as a team. We have different people stepping up. I would like to see how we keep growing and learning together."

CSUB's first opponent of the weekend will be Utah State (3-7), which will come to California after a tough weekend in Arizona. The battle-tested Aggies faced No. 3 Florida and No. 13 Arizona State and will be ready to take on the field at the Silicon Valley Classic. CSUB and USU have faced off eight times in the all-time series, but this weekend's meeting will be the first since 2014. That year, the `Runners swept a doubleheader against the Aggies and CSUB has beaten USU in four of the last five matchups.

Santa Clara has started the season off with a 1-6 record. The Broncos have participated in the same two tournaments to start the season as Bakersfield, but the two teams have yet to clash. The rivalry between CSUB and Santa Clara began 30 years ago and the `Runners have enjoyed a 26-9 all-time record against the Broncos. Bakersfield has won seven of the last eight meetings including a three-game sweep in 2016, the last time the two teams played each other.

Coming all the way from Muncie, Ind., Ball State (7-4) is off to a strong start after finishing the Madeira Beach Invitational with a 4-2 record. CSUB and Ball State will be meeting for the first time in the two program's histories this weekend. The Cardinals are not the most offensively-explosive team, but their pitching staff boasts three student-athletes with an ERA under 1.00.

Montana (1-9) was also at the NorCal Kickoff on Opening Weekend and CSUB came from behind to earn a walk-off victory over the Grizzlies on Nicole Curry's RBI single. CSUB and Montana will be meeting for the fifth time in the all-time series and the `Runners currently have a 3-1 advantage on the Grizzlies.

San José State entered the week with a 5-5 record while one of its wins came against CSUB's Western Athletic Conference foe New Mexico State. The `Runners and Spartans will meet for the 21st time in the series history. After CSUB won the majority of the first 10 meetings, SJSU stormed back and has defeated Bakersfield in seven of the last eight games played.

The `Runners will open the Silicon Valley Classic on Friday, Feb. 22, with a pair of games against Utah State (11:30 a.m.) and Santa Clara (2 p.m.) in Santa Clara, Calif. On Saturday, CSUB will move to San Jose, Calif. to take on Ball State at 9 a.m. before closing the day against Montana at 11:30 a.m. The final day will also be at SJSU's field as CSUB will go up against its host with first pitch on Sunday scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

Live stats will be available for all five games this weekend. Links to those stats can be found on the CSUB softball schedule page. Fans can also follow @CSUB_Softball on Twitter (link above) for live updates.

~GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

#3 Nicole Curry: 1B; 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

#3 Nicole Curry
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior
: 1B

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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`Runners Headed North for Silicon Valley Classic

Players Mentioned

#3 Nicole Curry

Players Mentioned

#3 Nicole Curry