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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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KarahWisemanMN06
Mark Nessia/Mark Nessia Photography
11
Winner CSUN CSUN 7-11
3
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 7-8
Winner
CSUN CSUN
7-11
11
Final
3
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
7-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
CSUN CSUN 2 1 2 1 0 1 4 11 11 0
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 3 7 2

W: James, Jillian (4-5) L: Hitzel, Daryn (2-3)

Game Recap: Softball |

Wiseman Heats Up but `Runners Fall in Home Opener



BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Despite a 3-for-3 performance from junior Karah Wiseman, the CSU Bakersfield softball team suffered a tough loss in its home opener on Thursday. The Roadrunners fell behind early against a potent CSUN offense and fell at the Roadrunner Softball Complex, 11-3.

The Matadors got out to a quick start when Megan Stevens' home run gave CSUN a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. CSUB's starting pitcher, Daryn Hitzel, responded well by getting the next two batters out to end the frame. In the top of the second, CSUN tacked on another run thanks to a Bakersfield error.

In the bottom half of the second, senior Nicole Curry singled to lead off the frame and Wiseman, a junior catcher,  put `Runners on the corners with a two-out single of her own. Despite having two `Runners in scoring position after Wiseman stole second, Bakersfield was unable to bring them home and went to the third inning trailing 3-0.

A pair of RBI base hits helped CSUN put a pair of runs on the scoreboard in the top of the third. An inning later, the Matadors scored one more run to make the score 6-0 heading to the fifth. CSUN was primed to strike again in the fifth, but sophomore Julie Lewis worked herself out of a one-out, bases loaded jam to keep the Matadors off the board.

The `Runners rallied in the fifth inning with the bottom half of the lineup doing some damage. Wiseman recorded her second single of the game to get things going and was plated on fellow junior Cydney Curran's RBI triple. Senior Paige Johnson followed that up with an RBI single to make the score 6-2.

CSUN was able to tack one run on in the top of the sixth before a smart cut off ended the inning with a 7-2 score. In the top of the seventh, a trio of home runs gave the Matadors an 11-2 lead as the `Runners headed to their final three outs needing a big rally.

Bakersfield got back-to-back singles to lead off the seventh thanks to Wiseman and junior Jocelyn Betancourt, who made her season debut after an injury during preseason. Curran moved both `Runners into scoring position with a long fly ball and Johnson was able to record her second RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly. The CSUB rally ended there and Bakersfield fell 11-3 in its home opener.

Wiseman finished the game 3-for-3 with a trio of singles. Johnson tallied two RBI on the game while Curran recorded her sixth triple of the season. Bakersfield's starting shortstop came into the week leading the nation in triples and helped her own cause on Thursday. Hitzel took the loss after pitching two innings while allowing three runs, two unearned.

The `Runners (7-8) will have the rest of the week off to prepare for a busy schedule next week. CSUB will host North Dakota on Tuesday, Mar. 12, in a doubleheader that was originally scheduled to be Bakersfield's home opener. Bakersfield will then hit the road to play a three-game road series, Mar. 16-17, against San Diego.
 
~GoRunners.com~
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