Utah Valley vs. CSU Bakersfield
Friday, April 3 (2 p.m.) - Saturday, April 4 (12 & 2 p.m.)
Wolverine Field  |  Orem, Utah 
WAC Digital Network (Fri)  |  Live Video (Sat)  |  Live Stats  |  UVU Series NotesOREM, Utah – The Utah Valley University softball team will welcome CSU Bakersfield to town for its 2015 Western Athletic Conference home opening series this weekend. The Wolverines and Roadrunners will open the three-game conference set Friday at 2 p.m. at Wolverine Field and the series will conclude on Saturday with a doubleheader that is scheduled to begin at noon and 2 p.m.
 
Prior to Friday's first pitch, the 2014 WAC Tournament Champion Wolverines will be honored with a ring ceremony and a banner unveiling.
 
Friday's opener will air live on the WAC Digital Network and will feature Dave Fox of KUTV Channel 2's Talkin' Sports on the play-by-play. Live video will also be streamed for Saturday's doubleheader on WolverineGreen.com, while live stats will be available for all three games by visiting UVUStats.com.
 
"We are anxious to host our first home WAC series and we're excited about a fresh start at home," said head coach Nikki Palmer. "The team has been training hard this week and we are optimistic about facing Bakersfield this weekend."
 
The Wolverines (12-25, 0-3 WAC) will be looking to bounce back this weekend after getting swept in their conference opening series at the preseason favorite New Mexico State Aggies last weekend in Las Cruces. NM State took the three games, 7-2, 9-0 and 10-0, en route to the series sweep.
 
Despite suffering the three setbacks last weekend, senior Erin Romero, as well as freshmen Jaylen Watson and Taleigh Williams each hit .333 in the series. Romero added a double in the weekend series against the Aggies while Watson chipped in an RBI.
 
Prior to the series at New Mexico State, the Wolverines traveled to Eugene, Oregon, on March 25 for a rematch of the 2014 NCAA Regional against No. 2 Oregon. Despite outhitting the now top-ranked Ducks 6-3 in game two of the midweek doubleheader, Oregon took both games of the twin bill, 9-1 and 3-0.
 
Sophomore Brianna Gatlin, who had her 16-game hitting streak snapped at Oregon last week, leads the Wolverines offensively with a .386 average, seven home runs, seven doubles, 19 RBIs, 20 runs scored, a .705 slugging percentage and a .449 on-base clip. Watson is next for the Wolverines as she's hitting .315.
 
Fellow sophomore Bailey Moore, who was named the WAC Pitcher of the Week two weeks ago after no-hitting BYU, leads UVU in the circle with an 8-13 record and a 4.88 ERA. She is also tops in the WAC in innings pitched (142.0), starts (22) and appearances (32).
 
About CSU Bakersfield
The Roadrunners will enter this weekend's series with a 13-17 overall clip and a 1-2 WAC record after taking a game over Missouri-Kansas City at home last week. CSUB won the opener of the three-game set, 5-4, over the Kangaroos before dropping the final two contests, 12-2 and 2-1. Prior to the conference opening series against UMKC last weekend, the 'Runners lost both games of a midweek doubleheader to Cal State Fullerton on the road last week.
 
Sydney Raeber leads Bakersfield on the season with a .341 average and 13 runs batted in. She also holds a team-best .429 slugging percentage, as well as a .396 on-base clip. Adrianna Cardoza is next for the 'Runners with a .327 batting average, while Kelsie Monroe paces CSUB in the circle with a 9-7 record and a league best 2.49 ERA. Opponents are batting just .230 off of Monroe this season, which is also tied for the best opponent batting average in the WAC. 
 
UVU will enter this weekend's series having won the last seven meetings over CSUB, including all four contests last season. The Wolverines also hold a 13-7 all-time advantage over the 'Runners.
 
Up Next for the Wolverines
Utah Valley will continue its seven-game homestand when neighboring rival BYU comes to town for a midweek contest on Tuesday, April 7. The Wolverines shutout the Cougars, 13-0, just two weeks ago in Provo. UVU will then close its homestand against WAC foe Seattle U next weekend (April 10-11).