CSUN Softball Falls in Heartbreaking Fashion to Bakersfield, 3-2, to Kick-Off Series

Friday, March 13

Bakersfield, CA

2:30 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

6-14, 2-2

Cal State Bakersfield

4-21, 2-2

CSUN

CSU Bakersfield

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Softball Falls in Heartbreaking Fashion to Bakersfield, 3-2, to Kick-Off Series

3/13/2026 7:23:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. --- CSUN softball (6-14, 2-2 Big West) fell to the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners in walk-off fashion, 3-2, Friday afternoon at Roadrunner Softball Complex. Kaitlyn Tso pitched a complete game for the Matadors, striking out three, while giving up just two earned runs. Isabella Hiner and Raegan Jackson drove in the two runs of the game for the Matadors.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Roadrunners struck first in the bottom of the first. After a groundout to start the frame, Alexia Castro doubled to left field. She advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Hannah Garcia then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Castro to tag and score, giving Bakersfield the early 1-0 lead.

CSUN rallied in the third inning to take the lead. Vanessa Perez reached on a fielder's choice and later scored when Hiner lined an RBI double to right-center field. Jackson followed with a triple to right field that plated Hiner, giving the Matadors a 2-1 advantage.

However, the Matador lead was short-lived as Bakersfield added one in the bottom of the third.
After a strikeout to start off the inning, Aariana Harrison followed with a single to second base. Castro then followed with a single to center field as Harrison moved to third on the play. During the next at-bat, Castro attempted to steal second, when the throw from Makenzie Padilla went into center field, allowing Harrison to score.

The score remained 2-2 for the next three and a half innings as both pitchers settled in. CSUN threatened in the top of the seventh when Ta'Tiannah Wright delivered a pinch-hit single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mackenzie Kila. However, the Matadors were unable to bring the go-ahead run home.

With the game tied entering the bottom of the seventh, CSU Bakersfield's Marianna Narvaiz led off the inning and lifted a home run to left field to secure the victory for the Roadrunners.

NOTES OF THE GAME

Hiner, Amber Rivas and Jackson each recorded extra-base hits for CSUN, which finished with seven hits on the day.
CSUN only struck out three times.
Savannah Simons recorded a stolen base.
Cedes Saldana earned the win for CSU Bakersfield, also tossing a complete game.

UP NEXT
CSUN and Bakersfield conclude their series with a doubleheader tomorrow at Roadrunner Softball Complex. First pitch of game one will commence at noon, while first pitch for game two is tentatively scheduled at 2:30 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.