OREM, Utah-- The Roadrunner softball team got two outstanding pitching performances in a doubleheader against conference foe Utah Valley on Saturday. CSU Bakersfield was only able to convert one of those outings into a win as the 'Runners split the last two games to drop the Western Athletic Conference series 2-1.

Kelsie Monroe (Sr., Los Banos, Calif., San Joaquin Delta College) picked up the 42nd complete game and seventh shutout of her career with a win in the first game of the day. With seven more innings pitched, the senior is now at 500.1 in her career while Monroe earned her 30th career win on Saturday. Monroe allowed only five hits and four walks while striking out four Wolverines.

Sydney Raeber (Jr., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) pitched one of the best games of her career in Game 2, but came up with the loss. The junior gave up only three hits while striking out a career-high eight batters, twice her previous best total.

With three tight games in Orem, five of Bakersfield's six WAC games this season have been decided by two runs or less. CSUB has been on the winning side of only two of those close decisions and Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the 'Runners, recognized that after the game: “We need to become tougher as a team.”

GAME 1 - CSUB 2, Utah Valley 0

CSUB's struggles from Friday continued as the team stranded Alexandrea Simmons (Jr., Ontario, Calif., Mt. SAC) at third base in the top of the first inning. Bakersfield's shortstop was just 60 feet away with only one out, but a groundout to the pitcher, Bailey Moore, and a strikeout ended the threat.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Wolverines capitalized on Monroe's mistakes but came up empty thanks to a great defensive play. Jaylen Watson walked to lead off the inning and her pinch runner, Kelli Gendlek, ended up on third base thanks to back-to-back wild pitches. With two outs, a shallow fly ball was not deep enough for Gendlek to score as Raeber, the starting centerfielder when she is not pitching, threw the runner out at home.

CSUB stranded six 'Runners through the first four innings, but finally capitalized on its opportunities in the top of the fifth. After Adrianna Cardoza (R-So., Santa Ana, Calif., La Quinta HS) double to lead off the inning, Julea Cavazos (Fr., Temecula, Calif., Temecula Valley HS) singled to centerfield for an RBI and a 1-0 lead. Cavazos moved to second on a fielding error and eventually came around to score on another error as the 'Runners took a 2-0 advantage.

Monroe held onto the lead, finishing her complete-game shutout by scattering three hits over the last three innings of the game. The senior improved to 10-8 on the year, giving CSUB its first 10+ game winner since Monroe did it herself in 2013.

The first three 'Runners in the batting order, Cardoza, Simmons, and Cavazos, all recorded two hits while the former had the only RBI in the game for CSUB. Simmons also stole bases in Game 1.

GAME 2 - Utah Valley 2, CSUB 1

The Wolverines threatened in the bottom half of the first inning, loading the bases with two outs. Erin Romero's two-RBI single gave Utah Valley the lead they would never give up.

UVU's Makayla Shadle pitched a strong complete game as she allowed only two hits through the first six innings. CSUB attempt a late rally as Nicole Curry (Fr., Martinez, Calif., Alhambra HS) singled with one out in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Madison Bundy (Sr., Anacortes, Wash., Oregon State) doubled in the gap, putting the tying run in scoring position with Bakersfield's best hitter, Raeber, coming to the plate.

Raeber singled to right field to bring the 'Runners within one run, but Bundy came too far off third base and was thrown out trying to get back to the base. The baserunning gaff closed the game to give UVU a 2-1 win in the game and the series.

Bakersfield's junior pitcher competed brilliantly after the first inning, allowing just one Wolverine hit on the way to her second complete game of the season. Raeber's new career-high strikeout total of eight is the third highest single-game total in CSUB Division I history.

Raeber was one of five 'Runners with a single hit in the game and recorded the only RBI for CSUB. Josie Flores (So., Modesto, Calif., Utah Valley) played well against her former team, striking out once in the game but walking twice.

The 'Runners (14-19, 2-4 WAC) will return to action next week when they head to Phoenix, Ariz. CSU will face Grand Canyon (24-17, 5-1 WAC), Apr. 10-11, in another three-game series. Friday will feature a doubleheader while the teams will close the series with a single game on Saturday.

~GoRunners.com~