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Nick Ellis

Softball

CSUB Gives Second-Place LBSU All it can Handle

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LONG BEACH, Calif. – Rebounding from a slow start to the Big West softball series on Friday, CSU Bakersfield played like a totally difference team in Saturday's doubleheader against Long Beach State. The Roadrunners dropped both games against the league's second-place team to close the series, but Bakersfield battled the Beach in the 3-0 and 3-2 losses at the LBSU Softball Complex.

"I think we played well today," said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the `Runners. "We were locked in. It was great having Maya Williams back in the ballgame. Savanna Montoya came out and had a great two games today, hitting the ball hard. We played great defense, especially in the outfield. This is the team that I expect to show up day in and day out. This is the maturing process of our program."

CSUB 0, LBSU 3

Bakersfield picked up its first hit of the series in the first inning on a hard-hit single by Savanna Montoya, but LBSU would take the early lead in the bottom of the second. The Beach watched a solo homer from Rylie Seip fly over the right field wall for a 1-0 lead heading into the third inning.

CSUB's best scoring opportunity of the first game came in the top of the fifth when Jocelynn Molina double down the line with one out. Despite the catcher's first extra-base hit of the season, the `Runners were unable to move her around as the Beach remained ahead by one run.

LBSU tallied back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the fifth, but Bakersfield's 25th double play of the season helped extinguish the threat. The `Runners entered the weekend ranked first among all NCAA Division I teams in double plays per game, helping themselves in the quest to become NCAA statistical champions again (2019).

The Beach tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth when Seip tallied an RBI single and later scored on a sac fly to make the score 3-0. CSUB's Samantha Martinez singled with one out in the top of the seventh, but the Bakersfield rally stalled there as LBSU's Sophia Hernandez closed out the shutout for a 3-0 victory.

CSUB freshman pitcher Reina Castillo threw a solid, complete game for the `Runners, her 10th of the season. The native of Rialto, Calif. scattered seven hits while striking out three batters.

CSUB 2, LBSU 3

A pitchers' duel between the `Runners' Kaycie Kennedy and LBSU's Samantha Fowler broke out with both hurlers keeping the opposing offenses quiet through the first few innings. Freshman Maya Molina-Villareal tallied the first hit of the game for either team in the top of the third, but even after a stolen base she was unable to come around and score.

LBSU responded by also breaking up the CSUB no-hitter in the bottom of the third on a single. A throwing error helped the Beach take a 1-0 advantage to the third inning.

The `Runners responded with a run of their own, tying the game in the top of the fourth. Shaylene Fuimaono singled and later reached third on a fly ball to right field. The throw into third glanced off CSUB's runner and careened out of play, allowing Fuimaono to trot home for a tie score.

LBSU put two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth, threatening to regain the lead with two outs. Outfielder Kaia Johnson was inches away from making a diving grab to end the inning, but the two-RBI single hit the grass and LBSU went ahead, 3-1.

In the top of the sixth, the `Runners saw Samantha Martinez reach second base with two outs. With Kailey Samora pinch running, Jordan Head tallied her first RBI with a single, plating the speedy Samora to make the score 3-2.

While the `Runners put one on base in the top of the seventh, a strike-em-out throw-em-out double play ended CSUB's threat to tie. LBSU held on for the 3-2 victory, setting the Beach up for a chance to take their second-straight Big West title if they can best Cal State Fullerton next weekend.

CSUB's Kirsten Martinez pitched three scoreless innings in relief in Game 2, allowing just one hit and one walk to the potent Beach offense.

Next Weekend

The `Runners (8-34, 3-21 Big West) will return to Bakersfield for one final series in the 2022 season. CSUB will welcome UC Riverside (21-24, 12-11 Big West) to the Roadrunner Softball Complex, May 13-14, for the three-game series. The `Runners will play two games on Friday against the Highlanders before closing out the season with Senior Day on Saturday.

~GoRunners.com~
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Players Mentioned

Jordan Head

#8 Jordan Head

INF
5' 7"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
Kaia Johnson

#2 Kaia Johnson

OF
5' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
Samantha Martinez

#30 Samantha Martinez

INF
5' 4"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Jocelynn Molina

#66 Jocelynn Molina

C
5' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
Kailey Samora

#33 Kailey Samora

OF
5' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
L/R
Savanna Montoya

#55 Savanna Montoya

OF
5' 5"
Junior
R/R
Kirsten Martinez

#18 Kirsten Martinez

P
5' 6"
Sophomore
R/R
Reina Castillo

#12 Reina Castillo

P
5' 8"
Freshman
R/R
Shaylene Fuimaono

#20 Shaylene Fuimaono

3B
5' 6"
Freshman
R/R
Kaycie Kennedy

#14 Kaycie Kennedy

P
5' 8"
Freshman
R/R
Maya Molina-Villarreal

#45 Maya Molina-Villarreal

C
5' 9"
Freshman
R/R
Maya Williams

#11 Maya Williams

3B
5' 8"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Jordan Head

#8 Jordan Head

5' 7"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
INF
Kaia Johnson

#2 Kaia Johnson

5' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
OF
Samantha Martinez

#30 Samantha Martinez

5' 4"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
INF
Jocelynn Molina

#66 Jocelynn Molina

5' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
R/R
C
Kailey Samora

#33 Kailey Samora

5' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
L/R
OF
Savanna Montoya

#55 Savanna Montoya

5' 5"
Junior
R/R
OF
Kirsten Martinez

#18 Kirsten Martinez

5' 6"
Sophomore
R/R
P
Reina Castillo

#12 Reina Castillo

5' 8"
Freshman
R/R
P
Shaylene Fuimaono

#20 Shaylene Fuimaono

5' 6"
Freshman
R/R
3B
Kaycie Kennedy

#14 Kaycie Kennedy

5' 8"
Freshman
R/R
P
Maya Molina-Villarreal

#45 Maya Molina-Villarreal

5' 9"
Freshman
R/R
C
Maya Williams

#11 Maya Williams

5' 8"
Junior
R/R
3B
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