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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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SummerEvansWAC01
Jaime Guzman/WAC
6
Winner Utah Valley UVU 21-28
3
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 6-38
Winner
Utah Valley UVU
21-28
6
Final
3
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
6-38
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Utah Valley UVU 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 4 6 13 2
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 9 1

W: Jensen, Addie (11-11) L: Evans, Summer (1-22)

Game Recap: Softball |

`Runners Eliminated In Extra-Inning Heartbreaker

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – In an elimination matchup against the second-seeded team in the Western Athletic Conference Softball Tournament, CSU Bakersfield fought hard but came up just short. The Roadrunners forced extra innings, but eventually fell by a score of 6-3 in the ninth as their season came to an end.

"Yesterday was not us and I asked the team to play `Runner softball and that's what they played today," said Crissy Buck-Ziegler, Head Coach of the `Runners. "They played wonderful. I'm really proud of them. I wish we would have come out on top and played a few more games, but I like how we fought at the end."

With runners on the corners and two outs in the top of the third, a fielding error allowed the Wolverines to plate the run and prolonged the inning. A couple of controversial calls later, UVU had the bases loaded, but senior Summer Evans fanned her second batter of the game to limit the damage to just one run.

A leadoff triple for Kaylee Bott set UVU up for a scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth inning. Later in the frame, a sacrifice fly scored Bott. Known more for inducing ground and fly balls, Evans recorded her third strikeout of the game to end the inning and keep the score at 2-0.

CSUB took advantage of a UVU miscue in the bottom of the fourth as Chris Hipa ended up on second base on the error. Freshman Ariana Acedo drove in an RBI with a laser single to right field, making the score 2-1. In the next inning, CSUB loaded the bases with two outs, but was unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

A pitchers' duel ensued between UVU's staff and Evans as the two teams went to the bottom of the seventh. Down to the final out after two quick groundouts, sophomore Cydney Curran started a rally with a single. Designated player Evelyn Mendoza followed that up with a single of her own, moving Curran into scoring position. Junior Paige Johnson came up with a clutch RBI single as Curran motored around third and scored, tying the game at two runs apiece.

The `Runners and Wolverines traded zeros in the eighth inning and headed to the ninth.

Three straight singles to lead off the top of the frame loaded the bases for Utah Valley. On her 150th pitch of the game, Evans threw a wild pitch that allowed the Wolverines to go ahead, 3-2.

The game started to unravel for CSUB at that point as UVU went on to score four runs in the frame and take a 6-2 lead. Freshman Daryn Hitzel came on to relieve and recorded back-to-back outs to get the `Runners out of the inning.

Down to its final out again, an error prolonged the inning for CSUB and Halle Neher scored from third. Acedo walked as the `Runners found themselves with the tying run at the plate. Unfortunately, the magic ran out and UVU sealed the 6-3 victory.

In a gargantuan effort, Evans put together one of the most impressive performances during her two years with the `Runners. The native of Escondido, Calif. nearly finished off a complete nine innings with 177 pitchers thrown. Evans tallied a career-high four strikeouts but took a tough loss as her collegiate career came to an end.

???????CSUB tallied nine hits and six walks in the game with Acedo going 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI from the plate to lead the `Runners. Johnson was 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI of her own.

Senior Kaylynn Burt added another walk in her final game while making a dazzling sliding catch in left field. Fellow senior Julea Cavazos recorded a single, rounding out one of the most impressive careers in CSUB's Division I history. The centerfielder will graduate ranked in CSUB's Top 5 in several career categories including batting average, hits, runs, and walks.

Buck-Ziegler wrapped up the season by commending Evans on the game and her time as a `Runner: "I told Summer that was one of the best games I have ever seen her throw. She was mixing speeds and kept them off balance. 'Guts' doesn't even begin to describe Summer."

Fighting through emotions, Buck-Ziegler described her other three seniors as well: "Kaylynn and Julea got on base and fought to then end. They did whatever they could to help our team get the W. It was a bummer that Maddi Clark went down, but she was in the dugout with them, fighting along the way. They are a great group that really helped build a tradition here and literally a foundation at the field. I am really indebted to these seniors."

~GoRunners.com~
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