OREM, Utah-- The Roadrunner softball team outhit Western Athletic Conference rival Utah Valley on Friday afternoon, but struggled to score early and often. CSU Bakersfield fell in the series opener 3-1 when a seventh-inning rally came up short.

Three hits and an error were enough for the Wolverines to take advantage of CSU Bakersfield's inability to capitalize on several scoring opportunities. On the game, CSUB outhit UVU 7-3, but left eight 'Runners on base. Bakersfield went 3-for-14 with 'Runners on and 1-for-9 with 'Runners in scoring position.

In the top of the first inning, Selena Gonzalez (So., Manteca, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) singled to lead off the game. After one out, Sydney Raeber (Jr., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) laid a perfect bunt single down the third base line. A grounder moved both 'Runners over, but Bailey Moore struck out the next batter to end the threat.

The 'Runners would strand Madison Bundy (Sr., Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) at second base after a two-out walk and a steal in the top of the second inning. The top of the third would be no different as Alexandrea Simmons (Jr., Ontario, Calif., Mt. SAC) was left at second. It was the third straight inning with at least one 'Runner left in scoring position.

After allowing no hits in each of the first two innings, Kelsie Monroe (Sr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) mixed two outs and three walks together to give UVU a bases-loaded situation. Brittany Vansway singled to right field and gave the Wolverines a 2-0 lead. Lyndsay Klimenko (So., Half Moon Bay, Calif., Half Moon Bay HS) came on to relieve for Monroe and got the third out of the inning to limit damage.

Cera Stanley took Klimenko deep with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The catcher's second homer of the season gave Utah Valley a 3-0 lead. Klimenko responded well to the blast, getting two more outs to end the inning. The sophomore only gave up one more hit over the next two innings to keep the 'Runners within striking distance.

Bundy singled with one out in the top of seventh to give Bakersfield life. Cardoza picked up her second hit of the day and she and Bundy would move over a base on a ground out. With two outs, Simmons delivered an RBI single for her second hit of the day to make the score 3-1. The 'Runner rally would end there as Moore induced a grounder to finish off her complete-game victory.

Monroe picked up the loss and fell to 9-8 on the season after pitching 2.2 innings, giving up one hit, two runs, and striking out three Wolverines. Moore improved to 9-13 for UVU after giving up only the one run off of seven hits.

Cardoza and Bundy both reached base safely at least once on Friday, extending their streaks to nine and ten games, respectively. Like Cardoza, Simmons recorded two hits in the game while driving in the only run for Bakersfield.

The Roadrunners (13-18, 1-3 WAC) and Wolverines (13-25, 1-3 WAC) will conclude their WAC series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 12 p.m. (MT).

~GoRunners.com~