NCAA DIVISION II SOFTBALL : Bakersfield Wins Third Crown

It took four games and 10 hours to accomplish, but Cal State Bakersfield won its third consecutive NCAA Division II softball title Sunday at Emerson Park in Midland, Mich.

The Roadrunners defeated California Collegiate Athletic Assn. rival Cal State Northridge, 6-2, in the title game after beating the Lady Matadors, 1-0, in the first championship game of the double-elimination tournament.

Northridge (51-21) had scored three runs in the seventh inning to beat Bakersfield, 3-2, earlier in the day.

That meant the Roadrunners (44-11) had to defeat Bloomsburg (Pa.) University, 4-0, to get another opportunity at playing Northridge.

Freshman Cathy Lewis (16-5) got credit for Bakersfield’s two victories over Northridge.

The left-hander pitched a three-hitter in the first game and allowed one hit in 3 1/3 innings of relief in the title game.

In the first game, Lisa Uranday singled in Michelle Gerry with one out in the seventh inning in the 1-0 victory over Northridge.

In the title game, Northridge third baseman Krista Miller’s two-out throwing error in the first inning led to four unearned runs.