OREM, Utah – After getting shutout by CSU Bakersfield's Kelsie Monroe earlier in the day, freshman starter Makayla Shadle nearly returned the favor for Utah Valley University in Saturday's nightcap by pitching a complete-game five-hitter en route to a 2-1 victory for the Wolverines.
 
With the win, UVU (14-26, 2-4 WAC) recorded its first WAC series victory of the season after taking Friday's opener over the Roadrunners (14-19, 2-4 WAC) by a score of 3-1.
 
"It was good for us to take the series here at home this weekend. We would've liked to have gotten the sweep but we'll take the two wins," said head coach Nikki Palmer. "The team worked well together today and it's nice to see Makayla come in with some consistency, as well as Erin (Romero) find a sweet spot and step up for us at the plate."
 
With Utah Valley holding to a 2-0 advantage in the seventh inning of Saturday's finale, the 'Runners pieced together of late rally to make things interesting. With two outs and a base runner on first, CSUB's Madison Bundy delivered a double to left center to put the tying runs in scoring position. Bakersfield pitcher Sydney Raeber then followed with a sharp RBI single to right, but a nice defensive play by UVU right fielder Erin Romero ended the game as she threw a strike to home and catcher Dana De La Torre quickly fired the ball to third to catch Bundy too far off the base to end the game.
 
Shadle went the distance for UVU in the circle to earn her fourth victory of the season (4-4). The freshman righty stuck out five and stranded five on the base paths to record her fourth complete game of the season.
 
Romero was the offensive hero for the Wolverines in the contest as she drove home both runs with a timely two-RBI single in the first inning. With the bases loaded and two outs in the frame, Romero connected with a single into left center to score a pair of runs. The senior outfielder finished the contest by going 1-for-2 with two runs batted in and a walk.
 
Bakersfield's Raeber (0-5) was the tough-luck loser in the contest, as she gave up just three hits and two runs while striking out eight.
 
"The girls don't like to be beaten at home, and I was proud of the adjustments that they made in game two," added Palmer. "They did a nice job of not quitting and coming back and fighting."
 
In game one of Saturday's doubleheader, CSUB's Monroe shutout UVU, 2-0. The Bakersfield ace allowed just five hits while striking out four en route to her 10th win of the season (10-8). She also did a nice job of pitching out of jams in the game, as she stranded seven Wolverines on the base paths.
 
With Monroe and UVU's Bailey Moore locked in a pitcher's duel, the 'Runners managed to score two runs in the fifth to take a 2-0 advantage. Julea Cavazos drove in the first run of the inning with a single to center, but two Wolverine errors aided the rally as CSUB managed to plate another unearned run for its second run of the game. Utah Valley then tried to answer by getting two runners on in each of the last three innings, but Monroe managed to escape each rally to preserve the shutout for Bakersfield.
 
Cavazos led CSUB in the contest by going 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk, while freshman Taleigh Williams paced the Wolverines with a 2-for-3 performance of her own.
 
UVU will now step out of conference play to welcome neighboring rival BYU to town on Tuesday, April 7 for a 3 p.m. contest. Following Tuesday's midweek tilt against the Cougars, the Wolverines will conclude their seven-game homestand by welcoming WAC foe Seattle U to town for a three-game set next weekend (April 10-11).