May 3, 2008

Game 1 Box - Game 2 Box

The Utah Valley University softball team completed a four-game sweep against Cal State Bakersfield Saturday with 11-5 and 5-4 wins in a doubleheader. The Wolverines improved to 16-32 on the season, and the Runners ended their season with a record of 22-25.

Utah Valley downed CSUB in a double header Friday as well, 6-4 and 6-1. In total, the Wolverines tagged the Runners for 47 runs in the eight games between the two teams this season.

"Our team just polished off a great weekend," UVU head coach Todd Fairbourne said. "The whole team stepped up, especially the top of the order and our number nine hitter. We could really pick out anyone, though. They all played well."

Freshman Meghan Woodworth, sophomores Alli Bramwell and Cherylyn McGraw, and juniors Heidi Stocks and Magan Niemann, UVU's top four and number nine hitters, combined to go 21-for-31 on the day. They also combined to score 14 runs and record 11 RBI. Stocks recorded wins in both games from the circle.

CSUB led for a total of one inning between the two games. The Runners brought home two runs in the top of the first inning in the first game, but gave up three in the bottom of the first and never saw the lead again. Woodworth hit her third homerun of the season in the second inning, and Niemann hit her first of the season in the fifth as UVU sprinted to an 11-5 win.

The second game was much closer than the first. UVU gave up one run in the top of the first inning of the second game, but again regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning scoring two runs. Steadman hit her third dinger of the season in fourth inning to spread the lead to 3-1, and Bramwell scored for the third time on the day in the fifth inning to boost the lead to 4-1.

The Runners' Kristen Archuleta hit a three-run shot in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game a 4-4. CSUB had another runner in scoring position with one out in the inning, but did not take the lead.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Wolverines led off with a single and an error that put Junior Shelly Manuel on third with no outs. Freshman Abby Bowcutt came on to pinch run for Manuel and freshman Samantha Telarroja laid down a squeeze bunt. Bowcutt was tagged out at the plate, but Telarroja reached first on a fielder's choice. A double from Niemann moved Telarroja to third, and a sacrifice fly from Woodworth scored Telarroja and gave UVU a 5-4 lead.

CSUB put their own leadoff hitter on third with triple in the top of the seventh inning, putting the tying run in scoring position and a potential winning run at the plate. Stocks, who was on in relief, pitched her way out of the jam, though, and forced a pop out to the short stop and back-to-back line outs to third base to seal the 5-4 victory.

The Wolverines will wrap up their season Monday at home in a doubleheader against Utah. Start times are set for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.