Toros and Roadrunners Split Softball Doubleheader in Bakersfield
April 30, 2005

Courtesy Cal State Bakersfield Sports Information Office

Complete Box Scores
Game 1        Game 2

BAKERSFIELD, CALIF. -- The Cal State Bakersfield softball team came tantalizingly close to season-ending sweep of No. 12 ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills, only to settle for a split. The Roadrunners took game one 9-1 in six innings before falling to a late Dominguez Hills rally, 6-4, in the nightcap at the Roadrunner Softball Complex in Bakersfield Saturday afternoon.

CSUB (32-22, 18-10 CCAA) likely needed a sweep to remain in the NCAA Tournament chase. Cal State Dominguez Hills (43-10, 23-5) likely will hold on to the No. 2 seed in the NCAA West Region. Regional pairings will be announced in two weeks.

The ’Runners did everything they needed to do through the first 12 innings of play Saturday. Junior pitcher Christie Hill was in control in game one, allowing just one unearned run and four hits to pick up 18th win of the season.

She also led a 15-hit barrage with three hits, including her fifth home run of the season. Her two-run shot in the fifth inning staked the ’Runners to a 2-0 lead.

Senior rightfielder Jenny Rios also had a big game in her final appearance in Bakersfield. Rios went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles. She had one of those doubles in a seven-run, eight-hit sixth inning that ended the game due to the eight-run rule.

The ’Runners appeared to be primed for the sweep when they used a three-run second inning in game two to open-up a 4-2 lead. They held the lead until the seventh inning, when the Toros scored three times to pull the game out of the fire.

CSUB pulled ahead with a parade of seeing eye base hits. They got 14 runners on base, but stranded 10 of them as Toro starter Jackie Miller did a solid job pitching out of trouble after the first two innings.

Dominguez then came from behind by using the formula CSUB had used to gain the lead in the first place. Jennifer Wilson led off with a walk before ’Runner relief pitcher Melissa Wooldridge (Salida/Florida CC) caught Kate Groden looking. But Wooldridge didn’t get a pair of close third strike calls as Kelli Rodriguez and Pebbel Prestwood snuck a pair of slow hoppers through for base hits.

Lori Moreno, running for Rodriguez, scored on a throwing error following Prestwood’s hit to put the Toros up 5-4. Miller then rolled a single up the middle to add an insurance run.

Cal St. Dominguez Hills  000 001 - 1  4 1 
Cal St. Bakersfield      000 027 - 9 15 1

Long, Barrientos (6) and Greco; Hill and Schweiger. WP- Christie Hill (18-7). LP- Valerie Long (19-4). HITTERS - CSUB: Christie Hill 3x4, HR (5), 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Jenny Rios 3x4, 2 2Bs, run, 2 RBIs; Amber Mills 2x4, HR (7), 2 RBIs. CSDH: Jennifer Wilson 1x3, 2B; Natalie Greco 1x3, RBI.

Cal St. Dominguez Hills (43-10, 23-5 CCAA)  020 001 3 - 6 10 0 
Cal St. Bakersfield (32-22, 18-10 CCAA)     130 000 0 - 4 13 1

Miller and Prestwood; Daniels, Wooldridge and Taylor. WP- Jackie Miller (17-3). LP- Melissa Wooldridge (4-5). HITTERS - CSUB: Christie Hill 3x4, 2B, run; Jenny Rios 1x4, 2b< run, 2 RBIs; Renee Rubio 2x3, 2B; Patricia Marquez 2x3, 2B, run; Allison Amezcua 2x4, 2 RBIs. CSDH: Jackie Miller 2x4, 2B, 2 RBIs; Cindy Perry 3x4, RBI, 2 SB.