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March 12, Cal State Bakersfield: CSUB vs North Dakota, at Cal State Bakersfield on March 12, 2019. David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography
David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography
3
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 15-31
2
UMKC UMKC 27-29
Winner
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
15-31
3
Final
2
UMKC UMKC
27-29
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 7 2
UMKC UMKC 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 5 2

W: Hitzel, Daryn (5-12) L: Packard, Kailyn (9-12)

Game Recap: Softball |

Seniors, Hitzel Lead CSUB to Win in Elimination Game

PHOENIX – The bats of CSU Bakersfield's seniors and the arm of sophomore Daryn Hitzel combined with another stellar defensive performance to lead the Roadrunners past Kansas City in an elimination game at the Western Athletic Conference Softball Tournament Thursday afternoon. Bakersfield took a third-inning lead on the Roos and never gave it up as CSUB earned a 3-2 victory at GCU Softball Field.
 
The `Runners took advantage of a third-inning error by UMKC as junior Cydney Curran came around to score for a 1-0 lead. The next batter, senior Nicole Curry, sent her second home run of the tournament over the left field wall to put CSUB ahead by three runs.

CSUB returned the favor with an error of its own in the bottom half of the frame. Kansas City took advantage of the miscue with a two-RBI double. The Roos nearly tied the score, but senior Chris Hipa made a diving play to knock down a ball that would have scored a runner from second. The defensive gem helped the `Runners hold on to their 3-2 advantage.

After the third inning, starting pitchers Hitzel and Kailyn Packard resumed their pitchers' duel with both hurlers keeping the opposing batters relatively quiet. The `Runners went to the bottom of the seventh with their one-run lead still intact.

Down to their final three outs, the Roos were unable to muster anything against CSUB. Hipa scooped up an easy grounder for the first out of the frame before Hitzel induced a lazy fly ball caught by senior Nadia Amezcua. The final batter of the game hit a line drive right at Curran and Bakersfield's shortstop snagged it to send the `Runners to Friday.

After a 2-for-3 performance at the plate on Thursday, Hipa is now 5-for-7 on the tournament. Curry, a native of Martinez, Calif., has three RBI on the week with two home runs while going 3-for-7. Fellow senior Paige Johnson added two hits on Thursday for three thus far at the WAC Tournament as Bakersfield's veteran leadership continues to guide the otherwise young squad.

Just a sophomore, Hitzel has established herself as a vital arm in the `Runner pitching rotation. The Corona, Calif. native threw her sixth-career complete game on Thursday, allowing two runs (one unearned). The left-hander scattered five hits and a walk while striking out four Roos in the win.

Thursday night's victory in Phoenix guarantees CSUB (15-31) one more day at the WAC Tournament. The `Runners survived one elimination but they will have to win two more on Friday in order to advance to Saturday's Championship.

Tomorrow, Bakersfield will take on the winner of Thursday night's contest between No. 3 Grand Canyon and No. 4 Utah Valley with first pitch scheduled for 4:30 p.m. (PT). If the `Runners advance again, they will have to play again immediately in another elimination game at 7:30 p.m.

~GoRunners.com~
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