BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Cal State Bakersfield softball team is back home for the final home series of the 2023 season. Bakersfield will be welcoming Long Beach State for a three-game series that will feature a double header on Saturday, May 6^th and then wrap up the series with a celebration of the Roadrunner seniors on Sunday, May 7^th.
 
Upcoming Schedule  

• Vs LBSU
• May 6, 1 p.m. (PT) (DH)
• May 7, 1 p.m. (PT)
• Roadrunner Softball Complex
• Bakersfield, CA

How to Follow the `Runners 

• All three games will be streamed on ESPN+
• Links for video, live stats, tickets, and more are available at GoRunners.com/Live. 

`Runner Notes 

• Karissa Munsey added to her team leading home run total this weekend versus CSUN to five total. Munsey also ranks 18^th in the Big West in batting average during conference play with a .327 average. She also has the third most home runs in conference play this season (3) and fifth most overall this season (5).
• Ciara Jensen and Kailey Samora both batted .400 this weekend versus CSUN in five at bats. Samora also reached base at a .500% clip over the weekend.
• Brianna Sanchez came out of the weekend with a 2.17 ERA in 9.2 innings pitched and three strikeouts. When facing Sanchez, CSUN batters were hitting .111.
• Kirsten Martinez also pitched well this weekend, in 5.2 innings pitched, she finished with a 1.24 ERA while opponents hit .182 versus Martinez.

Hear from LBSU Alumna and CSUB Pitching Coach…

• This weekend also features the first-time pitching coach, Amanda Hansen, will face her alma mater in her coaching career.
  • Hansen was a member of the Long Beach State softball team from 2012 to 2015. She helped them to a 2014 Big West title and earned First Team All-Big West while posting a 19-8 record with 13 complete games, six shutouts, and 82 strikeouts that year.
  • She finished her career with a 3.90 career ERA over 395 innings pitched, racking up 195 strikeouts, nine shutouts, and 29 complete games.

• Hansen on what it means to face Long Beach State:
  • "Facing Long Beach State for the first time in my D1 coaching career excites me! I am so thankful for my time as a student-athlete at LBSU. College is a time for young adults to develop individually, and my time there allowed me to grow in ways I will forever be grateful for. I was able to discover myself as a college student and a Big West Conference athlete."
  • "My coaches had the biggest influence on my growth. I believe our coaching staff here at CSUB are also cultivating that same passion for the game and outlook on life."
  • "I look forward to promoting our CSUB student-athletes to the competitive level I experienced as a pitcher at Long Beach State University!"

Scouting the Opposition

• The Beach (25-21, 15-6 BW) is coming off a series win versus Hawai'i as they took two of three from the `Bows.
• Long Beach swept Bakersfield last season when they met, but played two close games that were decided by three runs or less.
• The Long Beach offense is led Sara Olson, who is slashing .333/.409/.515. Olson leads the team in several categories such as, batting average (.333), on base percentage (.409), slugging percentage (.515), hits (44), runs (24), triples (4), home runs (4), total bases (68). The offense as a team is batting .257 with 18 home runs, and they are second in the Big West in triples which is eight shy of the conference leader, UC Santa Barbara.
• The pitching staff features a two team Big West pitcher of the week, Shannon Haddad. Haddad comes in with a 2.94 ERA in 116.1 innings pitched with 96 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .226 versus Haddad this season. Haddad also ranks fourth in the Big West in ERA (1.64) in conference play and fifth in opponents' batting average (.208).