BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — In a meeting that spanned generations of Roadrunner softball, current CSUB first baseman Maalia Cherry was honored by former home run record-holders Ryane Peterson and Christie Hill after surpassing their single-season mark during her standout 2025 freshman campaign.

Cherry, who now tops the CSUB record books with 13 home runs, met with Peterson (2010–11) and Hill (2003–06) to celebrate the milestone and reflect on the shared bond of their accomplishments in blue and gold.

Both Peterson and Hill previously held the program record with 12 home runs in a season — Peterson in 2010 and Hill in 2006. The three sluggers spent the meeting swapping stories from their record-setting seasons, recalling moments in a Roadrunner uniform and sharing what the record meant to each of them and their teammates.

"This meeting only goes to show that once you wear the blue and gold, you are family — no matter when you played," said Hill, who was one of the first power hitters in CSUB's Division II era.

Peterson echoed the sentiment, adding, "Records are meant to be broken. We are just so proud of Maalia and the record she now holds. We hope that when someone else comes along and breaks it, we can all get back together to welcome her into this special sorority of home run hitters."

For Cherry, the opportunity to connect with the women who paved the way before her was a humbling and unforgettable experience.

"This is amazing — to have alumni come out to games and then want to meet with me to tell me how proud they are of me for setting a record really means the world to me," Cherry said. "It's something I will always remember. Once a `Runner, always a `Runner."

The moment served as a reminder that while records are made to be broken, the legacy of Roadrunner softball is built on lasting connections, shared pride, and an unbreakable bond through generations.