BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – On Opening Day of Western Athletic Conference play, the Roadrunner softball team battled Utah Valley, but fell by a final score of 4-2. Freshman Chris Hipa went 2-for-3 from the plate and drove in a run, but CSU Bakersfield was unable to mount a comeback against the Wolverines.

“We ran ourselves into a couple outs in the sixth inning,” said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the 'Runners. “They scored a couple runs in the top half of the inning and we came back; that's the positive right there. We're coming back, but we have to keep the foot on the gas pedal. I liked the way Lyndsay Klimenko threw the ball and the way that Amber Mills threw. Alyssa Stockton, we're getting her to a spot where we know she's growing as a pitcher.”

The Wolverines put a pair of runners on base with only one out in the top of the first. CSUB warded off trouble when first baseman Briana Pontecorvo snagged a line drive and doubled off UVU to end the inning and the threat.

The game remained a pitchers' duel through the first three innings with both CSUB's starter, Mills, and UVU's Bailey Moore each allowing no runs and just one hit. The Wolverines finally caught up to Mills in the top of the fourth. CSUB's senior right hander walked the first batter and then allowed back-to-back singles as Utah Valley went ahead 1-0.

Stockton, a freshman, came in to relieve and gave up a single and a walk as the 'Runners went down 2-0. Stockton induced a grounder before Hipa snagged a line drive and doubled off UVU to get the 'Runners out of another jam.

With two outs and Pontecorvo on second in the bottom half of the fourth, Hipa backed up her defense with an RBI single up the middle. The freshman's swing cut the Wolverine lead in half as CSUB made the score 2-1.

In the top of the sixth inning, UVU catcher Dana De La Torre lifted a fly ball to deep center field. Sydney Raeber tracked it to the wall but could not reach the ball as De La Torre gave the Wolverines an insurance run. With two outs and Wolverines on first and second, a fielding error allowed an unearned run to score and gave Utah Valley a 4-1 lead.

Raeber led off the top of the sixth with a single and was moved to second when Selena Gonzalez singled as well. Pontecorvo's sacrifice bunt moved both 'Runners over and a wild pitch allowed Raeber to come around and score, but Gonzalez was thrown out at the plate on the play. CSUB had its momentum thwarted, but cut the lead to just two runs.

“That stuff happens,” said Buck-Ziegler about the aggressive baserunning. “That's from a team that is trying to make things happen. We have to allow the game to come to us, but, I thought today was a good start in conference play.”

After sophomore Kaylynn Burt sent a high fly ball down the left field line that just curved foul, the 'Runners went down in order in the bottom of the seventh. CSUB fell to UVU by a final score of 4-2.

Hipa, a freshman from Aiea, Hawai'i, went 2-for-3 in the game and recorded her second RBI of the season while playing solid defense. Three 'Runner pitchers threw for at least 1.2 innings while Mills took the loss (4-7). Gonzalez went 1-for-2 from the plate and reached base a second time on a walk. The junior designated player now leads CSUB with a .370 batting average.

CSU Bakersfield (8-22) will return to the Roadrunner Softball Complex to close out the WAC-opening series against UVU (5-22) on Saturday. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. as the 'Runners will be looking for a series win. Tomorrow's first game will also be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network.

~GoRunners.com~