Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The USD softball team (5-5) split their doubleheader Sunday, beating Southern Utah 2-1 on a walkoff error before falling to Cal State Bakersfield 4-2. The Toreros ended the weekend with a 3-2 record.

In game one, Paige von Sprecken and Southern Utah's Katie Greenberg were locked in a pitcher's duel, trading zeros for the first five innings. The Toreros threatened to score in the second when Kailey Hill hit a triple to deep left centerfield with one out, but the Thunderbirds' Katie Greenberg was able to punch out the next two batters to strike out the side and escape the jam.

Southern Utah had their own scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth when they hit a single to left field with a runner on second, but freshman Kelsey Borello threw a bullet home to Mary Grabowski, who was able to block the plate and get the tag down just in time.

USD rallied to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. With one out Danielle Mavridis singled to center and then stole second base. The next batter, Chloe Kaneko, came through in the clutch with a single down the left field line, to bring home the go-ahead run.

The Thunderbirds wouldn't go away quietly though. After their leadoff runner singled, she was sacrificed to second. Von Sprecken struck out the next batter, but then Southern Utah's Sara Park hit a game-tying RBI single.

Kailey Hill drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh, and then Olivia Sandusky sacrificed her over to second. Pinch hitter Kylie Crawford then grounded out to third, but was able to advance Hill to third, which brought up Mary Grabowski with two outs. She hit a grounder to the shortstop, who bobbled it, allowing Hill to come in to score the game-winning run.

Von Sprecken (4-1) threw a complete game, scattering eight hits and allowing one run while striking out a career-high eight batters. Katie Greenberg (2-3) was saddled with the loss for the Thunderbirds despite giving up just three hits and one earned run.

In the second game against Cal State Bakersfield, both teams scored a pair of runs in the second inning. The Roadrunners' Sydney Raeber hit a two RBI single with the bases loaded to give CSUB an early 2-0 lead.

In the following inning, Kailey Hill continued her hot start with a double to the left centerfield gap. Olivia Sandusky followed with another gapper to left centerfield for a RBI triple. Tatum Schultz then brought her home with a sacrifice fly to centerfield, evening the score at 2-2.

The Roadrunners took the lead in the top of the fifth with a runner coming around to score from second after a USD defensive miscue. They added another insurance run in the top of the seventh with a Natalie Saucedo RBI triple down the right field line, bringing the score to 4-2.

The Toreros had two runners on with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but CSUB's Kelsie Monroe was able to get the last two USD batters out and hold on for the 4-2 win.

Grace Hernandez (1-2) allowed three earned runs in a losing effort, while the Roadrunners' Monroe earned the win after holding USD to four hits and two earned runs.

The Toreros will hit the road next weekend where they will play five games in the UC Riverside Tournament. Their first game is Saturday at 9:00 a.m. against Utah State.