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KaycieKennedyNE002
Nick Ellis

Softball

CSUB Comes From Behind Twice to Sweep Santa Clara

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Erasing a 3-0 deficit in Game 1 and a 4-0 deficit in Game 2, the CSU Bakersfield softball team swept Santa Clara with a pair of come-from-behind victories on Thursday. The Roadrunners rallied to take the wins in the doubleheader, including a thrilling, extra-inning walk-off to close out the day at the Roadrunner Softball Complex.
 

After allowing three unearned, first-inning runs in the opening game of the day, CSUB freshman pitcher Kacie Kennedy proceeded to dominate the Bronco hitters, allowing just one earned run over 10.1 innings of work on the day. Kennedy's strong pitching in both games gave Bakersfield time to chip away at Santa Clara's leads.
 

The `Runners exploded for five runs in the bottom of the third inning, taking a 5-3 lead over the Broncos. Bakersfield received five hits in the frame, capped by an RBI single from designated player Kayla Tadewosian.

Although Santa Clara pulled within one run in the fifth inning, CSUB added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 6-4. Bakersfield cashed in on Natalya Rodriguez's leadoff double when Kaia Johnson drove in her second RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly.

Reina Castillo, another freshman pitcher, closed out the final two innings for CSUB and allowed just one hit while earning her first collegiate save. Kennedy picked up her first win of the day after pitching 5.0 innings and fanning three Broncos. Johnson went 2-for-2 in Game 2 and recorded five putouts in left field.
 

Game 2 started out much the same for Bakersfield as the `Runners fell behind early, allowing a pair of runs in the first inning and two more in the third. Kennedy came on to relieve Castillo in the third and went on to pitch the final 5.1 innings, scattering two hits and a walk while striking out a season-high five batters.

CSUB plated a single run in the bottom of the third on another sac fly from Johnson. The `Runners made the score 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth when Cieana Curran wheeled around from second to home on an infield error.

In the sixth, Bakersfield freshman Lauren Randle delivered a 2-RBI single that tied the score at 4-4, but the first baseman's clutch contributions were not done yet.

With the international tiebreaker in effect, Santa Clara took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth inning by scoring its runner placed on second to start the frame. In the bottom half of the eighth, Bakersfield wasted no time tying the score once again, capitalizing on a Bronco error. Randle then came to the plate with one out and `Runners on second and third and drove in her third RBI of the game with a single to center field, sealing the extra-inning comeback with a walk-off base hit.
 
On the day, Bakersfield enjoyed production up and down the lineup, including a 3-for-6 day from Shaylene Fuimaono. The starting third baseman tallied a pair of doubles and scored two of her four times reaching base safely. Right fielder Savanna Montoya also went 2-for-4 with a double of her own.
 
Bakersfield (6-18, 1-5 Big West) will ride the wave of momentum gained on Thursday into a Big West Conference road series this weekend. The `Runners are scheduled for a three-game set at UC Davis (14-16, 2-4 Big West), Apr. 2-3, with the entire weekend to be broadcasted live on ESPN+.
 
~GoRunners.com~
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Players Mentioned

Kaia Johnson

#2 Kaia Johnson

OF
5' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
Lauren Randle

#29 Lauren Randle

1B
5' 9"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
Kayla Tadewosian

#88 Kayla Tadewosian

INF
5' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
L/R
Savanna Montoya

#55 Savanna Montoya

OF
5' 5"
Junior
R/R
Cieana Curran

#7 Cieana Curran

OF
5' 7"
Senior
L/L
Reina Castillo

#12 Reina Castillo

P
5' 8"
Freshman
R/R
Shaylene Fuimaono

#20 Shaylene Fuimaono

3B
5' 6"
Freshman
R/R
Natalya Rodriguez

#25 Natalya Rodriguez

C
5' 8"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Kaia Johnson

#2 Kaia Johnson

5' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
OF
Lauren Randle

#29 Lauren Randle

5' 9"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
1B
Kayla Tadewosian

#88 Kayla Tadewosian

5' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
L/R
INF
Savanna Montoya

#55 Savanna Montoya

5' 5"
Junior
R/R
OF
Cieana Curran

#7 Cieana Curran

5' 7"
Senior
L/L
OF
Reina Castillo

#12 Reina Castillo

5' 8"
Freshman
R/R
P
Shaylene Fuimaono

#20 Shaylene Fuimaono

5' 6"
Freshman
R/R
3B
Natalya Rodriguez

#25 Natalya Rodriguez

5' 8"
Freshman
R/R
C
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