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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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DarynHitzelSH01
Shae Hammond Photography
4
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 8-12
3
San Diego USD 11-15
Winner
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
8-12
4
Final
3
San Diego USD
11-15
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 10 4
San Diego USD 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 11 4

W: Hitzel, Daryn (3-5) L: HELLER (6-6)

Game Recap: Softball |

CSUB Outlasts San Diego in 11-Inning Marathon

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – In what proved to be the longest game by time in CSU Bakersfield's Division I history, the Roadrunners outlasted San Diego for a 4-3 victory in the 11th inning. Sophomore Daryn Hitzel threw six innings in relief for Bakersfield, allowing just one run to the Toreros and helping CSUB hold on for series-ending win.

San Diego managed to take a 1-0 lead on the `Runners in the bottom half of the second inning. A leadoff double followed by a wild pitch put a Torero in scoring position before a sacrifice fly plated the run. USD looked ready to extend its lead with runners on the corners and one out later in the frame, but freshman Avery Fitch came on to relieve and recorded the final two outs to limit the damage to just one run.

CSUB answered right back in the top half of the third after putting two `Runners in scoring position. The rally started with back-to-back singles from Paige Johnson and Ally Miller. A pair of USD errors with two outs helped Bakersfield tally two runs and take the lead from the Toreros.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, San Diego used its second sac fly of the game to tie the score at 2-2. The next two innings fared quietly as the `Runners and Toreros found themselves headed to extra innings.

With two outs in the top of the eighth, CSUB got back-to-back singles from Ariana Acedo and Nicole Curry to put `Runners on the corners. Another costly error by the Toreros pushed the go-ahead run across for Bakersfield.

In the bottom of the eighth, a one-out single put the tying run at second base for USD. Hitzel, working her third inning in relief for CSUB, induced a ground ball that was flipped over to second for Out 2, but an errant throw on what could have been an inning-ending double play allowed a Torero to score. With the game tied 3-3, Hitzel got the final out of the frame to send the two teams to the ninth inning.

USD created a pair of quality scoring chances in the ninth and tenth innings, putting the game-winning run just 60 feet from home on both occasions, but Hitzel managed to work her way out of trouble each time, giving the 221 fans in attendance more free softball.

Senior Chris Hipa led off the 11th inning with a double and Bakersfield soon had `Runners on the corners with no outs thanks to Nadia Amezcua's infield single. CSUB later loaded the bases with one out when a grounder looked like it would end the inning. Hipa was forced out at home on the play, but a throwing error on San Diego's catcher allowed Maxine Langenberg, pinch running for Amezcua, to come home and score for a 4-3 CSUB lead.

In the bottom of the 11th, Hitzel shrugged off a leadoff walk and later induced a game-ending double play to put the `Runners back into the win column. A sophomore lefty, Hitzel improved to 3-5 on the season with the victory

Eight `Runners tallied a hit on Sunday including Amzecua, CSUB's centerfielder who went 2-for-5 from the plate and her pinch runner proved to be the game-winning run. Hipa went 1-for-5 in San Diego and kept busy at second base, recording six putouts and nine assists.

With the win, CSUB improved to 8-12 on the season. Next weekend, the `Runners will host California Baptist at the Roadrunner Softball Complex, Mar. 22-23, in the Western Athletic Conference opening series.
~GoRunners.com~
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