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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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ChrisHipaMN02
Mark Nessia/Mark Nessia Photography
11
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 6-7
5
Southern Utah SUU 1-8
Winner
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
6-7
11
Final
5
Southern Utah SUU
1-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 4 4 1 0 2 0 0 11 12 2
Southern Utah SUU 0 1 0 2 1 1 0 5 8 5

W: Hitzel, Daryn (2-2) L: WYNN, H (0-3)

7
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 7-7
4
Saint Mary's SMC 2-10
Winner
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
7-7
7
Final
4
Saint Mary's SMC
2-10
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 4 0 2 0 1 0 0 7 11 0
Saint Mary's SMC 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 4 8 1

W: Azevedo, Kiara (4-2) L: EARLE (0-2)

Game Recap: Softball |

Senior Bats Lead CSUB to 2-0 Record to Open Tourney



ST. GEORGE, Utah – A fast start to both of CSU Bakersfield's games at the Red Desert Classic helped the Roadrunners run away with a pair of victories. The bats of seniors Chris Hipa and Nicole Curry, coupled with solid performances from the `Runner pitching staff, pushed Bakersfield past Southern Utah and Saint Mary's (Calif.) on Friday.

"We hit really well today," said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the `Runners. "We came to play together. I'm really happy to see us hitting the ball so well."

On the day, Hipa went 6-for-9 from the plate with two home runs, four RBI, and six runs scored. Curry, CSUB's starting first baseman, was 5-for-7 with three RBI and two runs of her own. Another pair of `Runners tallied three RBI each in sophomore Ariana Acedo and freshman Samantha Pech as Bakersfield combined for 18 runs over two games.

Sophomore Daryn Hitzel earned the win in CSUB's opening game while sophomore Julie Lewis and freshman Avery Fitch both pitched well in relief to close out a big victory. Freshman Kiara Azevedo threw 5.1 innings in Game 2 on the way to her fourth win of the season. Fitch, a native of Chowchilla, Calif. appeared in relief in both games, throwing 3.2 scoreless innings on Friday.

CSUB 11, SUU 5

The `Runners got out to a fast start against tournament host Southern Utah as CSUB capitalized on a pair of errors in the top of the first inning. After an error plated one run, Curry continued the scoring with a sacrifice fly before Pech's two-RBI single made the score 4-0.

In the top of the second, CSUB posted another four-spot on the scoreboard, this time thanks to the long ball. With Ally Miller and Paige Johnson on base, Acedo hit her first home run of the season to drive in three runs. Two batters later, Hipa, a native of Aiea, Hawai'i sent a solo homer to deep center to give CSUB an 8-0 advantage.

Southern Utah got one run back in the bottom half of the second inning, but CSUB responded with a run of their own in the top of the third. Curry tallied her second sac fly of the game, plating Johnson for a 9-1 advantage.

The Thunderbirds tacked on a pair of runs in bottom of the fourth, finally forcing Hitzel out of the circle. Lewis came in and struck out the final two batters of the inning to eliminate any thoughts of an SUU rally. In the next half inning, Curry scored on an error before Hipa came home on a wild pitch as CSUB went ahead 11-3.

SUU was able to score one more run in the bottom of the sixth, but Fitch came on to relieve and finished off the game for the `Runners, who won 11-5 in Utah.
Hipa (4), Johnson (2), and Acedo (2) all recorded multiple hits against Southern Utah while Acedo (3), Curry (2), and Pech (2) all tallied multiple RBI. Pech went 1-for-2 from the plate and reached safely three times thanks to a pair of walks.

CSUB 7, Saint Mary's 4

For the second-straight game, the `Runners jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, this time, against Saint Mary's. An RBI single by Curry scored Johnson for the fourth time on Friday. With Acedo and Curry on base, Hipa hit her second homer of the day, driving in three more runs.

SMC answered back for a run in the bottom of the first and two runs in the bottom of the second, pulling within one run of CSUB at 4-3. In the top of the third, singles by Curry, Nadia Amezcua, and Pech led to two more runs as CSUB extended its lead to 6-3. The Gaels tacked on their fourth run in the third inning, but Azevedo and Fitch combined to allow just two hits over the final four innings.

In the top of the fifth, CSUB scored the final run of the game and went on to win, 7-4. Hipa doubled to opposite field and wound up on third thanks to a passed ball. Amezcua, a fellow senior, came to the plate and got the job done with a sacrifice fly ball.

Curry went 4-for-4 against the Gaels with one run and one RBI. Hipa went 2-for-3, scoring three more runs and driving in a trio of `Runners. Azevedo pitched 5.1 innings in the victory, her team-high fourth win of the season. Fitch threw the final 1.2 innings, holding SMC scoreless.

Tomorrow

The `Runners (7-7) are scheduled to continue the Red Desert Classic on Saturday with a pair of games against tough opponents. CSUB will tackle Notre Dame (receiving votes) and No. 21/22 Baylor in St. George. The area is expecting possible thunderstorms, so, stay tuned to @CSUB_Softball on Twitter (link above) for updates and potential changes to the schedule.
~GoRunners.com~
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