| Freshman Morgan Luksa allowed just two runs in six-plus innings on Sunday. |
SAN ANTONIO ? Cal State Bakersfield plated runs in the sixth and seventh innings and held on for a 2-0 victory in the rubber game of a three-game non-conference series against UTSA on Sunday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
In the finale of the first-ever matchup between the only two NCAA Division I schools with the nickname Roadrunners, the visitors used an RBI-single by Sammy Rodriguez in the top of the sixth inning and a sacrifice fly from Jill McClelland in the seventh to take the series and improve to 26-21 on the season.
Katie Chavez (7-4) kept UTSA off balance after a shaky start, striking out three and scattering five hits in the shutout.
Freshman right-hander Morgan Luksa pitched brilliantly for the home team, allowing just two runs on six hits in six-plus innings in falling to 1-1 on the season.
UTSA (23-23) had a chance to strike first in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore Danye Homes drew a four-pitch walk to start the frame and freshman Caitlyn Ivy singled off the fence in left field to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Sophomore Kristin Kappler followed a fielder’s choice that erased Holmes at third with a long single that one-hopped into the wall in left field to load the bases, but Chavez got out of the jam with a strikeout and a popup to end the threat.
CSUB broke through in the sixth for the first run of the game. Justeen Maeva singled up the middle and pinch runner Chelsey Bell advanced to second via a sacrifice bunt from Jaimey Kleinsmith and to third on a passed ball. Rodriguez then lined what proved to be the game-winning hit into short center field to score Bell.
CSUB tacked on an insurance run in the seventh. Kristen Archuleta led off with a double to the fence in left center that chased Luksa from the circle. A base hit to right by pinch hitter Brittany Johnson put runners at the corners with no outs. Pinch runner Nette Puente stole second uncontested, but a nice play by third baseman Kappler off a Kelli Bailey ground ball nailed Archuleta at the plate for the first out. McClelland came through in the next at-bat, though, lifting a deep fly ball down the left field line that turned into a sac fly as Puente scored easily from third.
Junior Krista Sitka led off the bottom of the seventh with a base hit through the left side of the infield and junior Cassie Miller lined a sharply-hit ground ball past the third baseman to put runners at first and second with one down. Chavez got out of the jam by inducing a double-play ground ball right to the second baseman to secure the victory.
Archuleta led CSUB at the plate by going 2-for-3 as seven different players collected hits.
UTSA returns to action on Tuesday, April 21, with a single game at 5 p.m. against Baylor.