BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Utah Valley University softball's comeback attempt fell short in Saturday's nightcap as UVU dropped both ends of a WAC doubleheader to CSU Bakersfield by scores 7-1 and 4-2 on Saturday afternoon at the Roadrunner Softball Complex in Bakersfield, California.
 
With the losses, the Wolverines drop to 5-24 overall and 1-2 in WAC play while the Roadrunners improve to 10-22 overall and 2-1 in league play after taking the WAC opening series.
 
In the opening game of the twin bill, CSUB struck first with a run in the opening inning and three more in the third to jump out to a 4-0 advantage. Briana Pontecorvo and Chris Hipa each delivered RBI hits in the third to help the 'Runners take the early four-run lead.
 
The Wolverines then countered back with a run of their own in the fourth thanks to Dana De La Torre's second solo home run of the series, but that proved to be all the offense UVU could muster the rest of the way. Bakersfield went on to later put the game away by adding two more runs in last of the fourth and one more in the sixth.
 
De La Torre led the Wolverine offense in the first game of the day by going 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while Sydney Raeber paced the Roadrunners with a perfect 3-for-3 outing.
 
Bailey Moore (3-13) was saddled with the loss for UVU in game one of the doubleheader after giving up four runs on five hits in 2.2 innings, while Bakersfield's Lyndsay Klemenko improved to 2-7 after allowing just one run on six hits in five innings of work.
 
In game two of the twin bill, Bakersfield was once again the first to get on the board thanks to a pair of second-inning runs. An error aided the 'Runner offense in the frame, as one of the two runs to come home in the inning were unearned.
 
With the game still 2-0 in the third, CSUB managed to add two more runs in the runs to extend its advantage to 4-0. Kaylynn Burt delivered the big hit in the frame with a two-out, two-run triple.  
 
Utah Valley later struck back with an unearned run in the fourth when Brianna Gatlin came in to score on a CSUB throwing error to make it a 4-1 contest. The Wolverines then threatened in each of the fifth and sixth innings but couldn't manage to score, as the game remained 4-1 heading into the seventh.
 
In the top of the seventh, UVU then managed to plate another unearned run to make it 4-2 when Brittney Vansway came home to score on another CSUB miscue. With the tying runners on base, Bakersfield's Raeber then managed to strike out Kellee Ramsey and seal the win and the doubleheader sweep for the 'Runners.
 
Gatlin led the Wolverines in game two by going 2-for-3 with a double, while Burt paced the 'Runner offense with two hits and three RBIs.
 
Despite suffering the losses, UVU still holds a 16-10 all-time advantage over CSUB including having won 10 of the last 14 tries.
 
The Wolverines will now take a break from conference play to face in-state foe Weber State in a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday, April 5 in Ogden. Following Tuesday's twin bill, UVU will return home to take on New Mexico State for a three-game WAC series next weekend (April 8-9).