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Western Athletic Conference

Softball

CSUB Softball Set to Open 2020 Behind Large Group of Veterans



BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The CSU Bakersfield softball team will kick off the 2020 season on Thursday at the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament, hosted by defending NCAA Champion UCLA. The Roadrunners are set to dive headfirst into a new campaign with a large group of veterans leading the way.

The 2019 edition of the `Runners featured a quintet of seniors who will be greatly missed in Nicole Curry (1B), Chris Hipa (2B), Paige Johnson (3B), Nadia Amezcua (OF), and Maxine Langenberg (OF). CSUB's Head Coach, Crissy Buck-Ziegler, will have to replace four starters in that bunch including most of her starting infield.

Leading the way into 2020 for CSUB are a pair of senior field players and a junior pitcher. Shortstop Cydney Curran, a senior from Ewa Beach, Hawai'i, was one of the top batters in the Western Athletic Conference and ranked second in the nation with 10 triples. Catcher Karah Wiseman, a senior who hails from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., brings over 125 games of experience behind the plate for the `Runners. In the circle, lefty Daryn Hitzel enters her third season with more than 200 career innings pitched. Hitzel made marked improvement from her freshman season to her sophomore campaign and the native of Corona, Calif. is expected to be the go-to arm for the CSUB pitching staff.

Bakersfield also returns a large group of important role players from the 2019 squad. Samantha Pech begins her sophomore campaign after a rookie year in which she batted .266 primarily as the designated player. Redshirt freshman Kayla Tadewosian started out strong last season, but suffered a season-ending arm injury just 11 games into the year. Tadewosian will return in 2020 with the opportunity to pick up right where she left off.

This year's Bakersfield squad will also boast another experienced senior and three juniors that have seen plenty of action so far in their careers. Jocelyn Betancourt is set to play her final season with over 125 career at bats including many in clutch situations. Juniors Ariana Acedo, Arianna Felix, and Gabrielle Fua also return as integral parts of the CSUB roster.

A pair of `Runner outfielders also return for the 2020 season in sophomore Ally Miller and senior Nakaila Fuggs. Both look to earn time in the outfield while Katie Jackson is a redshirt sophomore utility who could end up either in the outfield or the infield this season.

Bakersfield welcomes nine newcomers to the squad including six freshmen and three junior college transfers. A Mt. SAC transfer, Candace Halliburton is expected to make an immediate impact in the `Runner outfield and at the plate. Freshman pitcher Talia Nielsen is Bakersfield's only other pitcher on the roster and the Liberty High School graduate will be thrown into the mix immediately alongside Hitzel.

Junior college transfer Samantha Martinez and freshmen Sam Fontaine and Jordan Head are expected to fight for time as infielders. Fellow freshmen Baylee Garrett and Laila Arditto will be looking to spend time in the CSUB outfield this season. Meanwhile, freshman Kailey Samora and junior Allie Dobbs will have opportunities to join the fray as well.

Bakersfield will kick off the 2020 season at UCLA's tournament, Feb. 6-8, with the first pitch of the season slated for 7 p.m. on Thursday night. The `Runners will face off against the No. 4-ranked Bruins while also facing San Diego, Pitt, and Cal Poly in five games over three days.

Live audio broadcasts will be available for both of CSUB's games against UCLA this week. Live stats will be available for all five games and links for all methods to follow the `Runners are available on the CSUB softball schedule page. Fans can also follow @CSUB_Softball on Twitter (link above) for live updates during games all season long.

~GoRunners.com~
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Players Mentioned

Nadia Amezcua

#29 Nadia Amezcua

UT
5' 4"
Senior
Nicole Curry

#3 Nicole Curry

1B
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
Chris Hipa

#28 Chris Hipa

UT
5' 5"
Senior
Paige Johnson

#17 Paige Johnson

INF
5' 4"
Senior
Maxine Langenberg

#27 Maxine Langenberg

OF
5' 5"
Redshirt Senior
Ariana Acedo

#24 Ariana Acedo

1B
5' 5"
Junior
R/R
Jocelyn Betancourt

#23 Jocelyn Betancourt

1B
5' 3"
Senior
R/R
Cydney Curran

#1 Cydney Curran

INF
5' 4"
Senior
L/R
Arianna Felix

#10 Arianna Felix

INF
5' 4"
Junior
R/R
Gabrielle Fua

#13 Gabrielle Fua

C/OF
5' 6"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Nadia Amezcua

#29 Nadia Amezcua

5' 4"
Senior
UT
Nicole Curry

#3 Nicole Curry

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
1B
Chris Hipa

#28 Chris Hipa

5' 5"
Senior
UT
Paige Johnson

#17 Paige Johnson

5' 4"
Senior
INF
Maxine Langenberg

#27 Maxine Langenberg

5' 5"
Redshirt Senior
OF
Ariana Acedo

#24 Ariana Acedo

5' 5"
Junior
R/R
1B
Jocelyn Betancourt

#23 Jocelyn Betancourt

5' 3"
Senior
R/R
1B
Cydney Curran

#1 Cydney Curran

5' 4"
Senior
L/R
INF
Arianna Felix

#10 Arianna Felix

5' 4"
Junior
R/R
INF
Gabrielle Fua

#13 Gabrielle Fua

5' 6"
Junior
R/R
C/OF
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