Assistant Sports Editor
CSU Bakersfield softball hosted Grand Canyon University, the preseason favorites to win the Western Athletic Conference title, and took the series 2-1 over the Lopes.
The two teams split a doubleheader on Friday, March 30 and the rubber match Saturday, March 31 was 3-2 by CSUB.
It was a dismal non-conference season for the CSUB softball team. The Roadrunners posted a 3-24 record going into the first series of conference play against Grand Canyon University.
“Our record doesn’t show how well we can play.” said Head Coach Crissy Buck-Ziegler.
GAME 1
It was a pitchers duel in the first game of the series. Both pitchers went the distance and pitched a complete game.
Brianna Aguilar of GCU threw six innings allowing eight hits and three earned runs with one strike out.
She hit three batters as well, including two in the third inning, both of which would come around to score for the Roadrunners.
CSUB senior Summer Evans pitched 7 innings allowing only 9 hits and 2 earned runs while striking out 2 batters. Evans (1-13) earned her first win on the season.
“I feel really good and I feel like we can get a lot more wins,” Evans said.
All the action happened in the third inning for both teams, with both teams scoring the entirety of their points in the inning.
A two-run home run by GCU in the top of the third inning gave the Lopes a 2-0 lead. Freshman Gabrielle Fua lead off the bottom of the third inning for CSUB with a hit-by-pitch. Later on, a single by senior Julea Covazos advanced Fua to third base.
Immediately following the Covazos at-bat, senior Kaylynn Burt was hit-by-pitch and that loads the bases for CSUB.
Back to back singles by junior Chris Hipa and Paige Johnson drives in three runs for the Roadrunners giving them a 3-2 lead after three innings.
Evans and solid defense by the Roadrunners give them the first win of conference play over GCU, 3-2.
“We strung hits together and with runners in scoring position we got them in,” said Cavazos on the execution in game 1.
GAME 2
The scoring began an inning earlier for both teams as GCU scores a run in the top of the second inning.
A single by freshman Ariana Acedo drives in the first run for CSUB. A sacrifice fly by sophomore Cydney Curran drives in the second run of the inning for the Roadrunners.
The scoring wouldn’t stop their as a double to left field by Cavazos scores Acedo, giving the Roadrunners a 3-1 lead after two innings.
The Lopes came right back in the top of the third inning, scoring three runs and taking the lead, 4-3 over CSUB.
The Roadrunners had no answer for GCU pitcher Yesenia Morrison and fell, 7-3 in the final game of the doubleheader.
GAME 3
The Roadrunners managed to get only four hits against Morrison, but the hits, combined with an error by the GCU defense gave CSUB the needed offense to stay ahead of the Lopes.
In the bottom of the second inning, sophomore Jocelyn Betancourt hit a double down the right field line. A double by Acedo scores Betancourt from second base giving the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead.
The next at bat, Fua reaches base on a throwing error by the GCU third baseman, which scores Acedo giving CSUB a 2-0 lead after the second inning.
The Roadrunners added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning expanding the lead to 3-0.
The Lopes answer in the top of the fifth inning. After two singles, a double to right center by Bianca Boling shrunk the lead to within one, 3-2.
Evans came into relief for the Roadrunners and did not allow a GCU hit.
CSUB won the final game of the series 3-2 and CSUB begins conference play tied for second place with a 2-1 record.
“You see our team getting better and better every week.” said Buck-Ziegler to gorunners.com.
CSUB (5-25, 2-1 WAC) will go on the road to take on New Mexico State University (18-14, 3-0 WAC) April 6-7 with April 7 being a doubleheader.
The Roadrunners will then return home to take on Seattle University (24-16, 2-1 WAC) April 13-14 and the double header will be on April 13.
Photo from Gorunners.com
