BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Utah Valley University built a 5-1 lead midway through Saturday's series finale but couldn't hold on, as CSU Bakersfield came back to win 7-5 to sweep the three-game WAC series.

Paxton Schultz put in a quality start for the Wolverines (11-23, 4-5), lasting six innings and allowing three runs on four hits while matching his career-high with seven strikeouts. Schultz left the game in line for the win. The Roadrunners (19-12, 6-6) used a four-run seventh to earn the come-from-behind win.

"Paxton threw the ball really well and put us in a position to win that game and it's very disappointing for us to lose that game," said UVU head coach Eric Madsen. "Give Bakersfield a lot of credit. They played well all series. We need to find ways to get it done, to be more confident, and trust who we are...and just win games."

The Wolverines jumped ahead early, rallying after there were two outs and nobody on in the first. Trevor Peterson singled back up the middle and then scored when Jackson Overlund tripled to right-center to give UVU its first lead of the series. Overlund then came in to score on a wild pitch to make it 2-0 after half an inning.

UVU manufactured a run in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead. Justin Erlandson singled to left to lead off the inning, later moved to second on a groundball to first by Jake Berry, to third on a passed ball, and then scored on an RBI groundout by Skyler Davis.

Leading 3-1 one in the fifth, Utah Valley loaded the bases with one down for Erlandson, who lined one off the foot of CSUB pitcher Isaac Meza and into shallow left, allowing two runs to score and make it 5-1 Wolverines.

The 'Runners got one back in the bottom of the fifth, getting a pair of two-out walks and a base hit by Andrew Penner. Schultz made a run-saving play to end the inning, sliding feet first towards the line at third and quickly throwing a strike to Peterson at first to retire David Metzgar on a bunt attempt and keep the score 5-2 Utah Valley.   

It was 5-3 after a run in the sixth for CSU Bakersfield, before the decisive four-run seventh inning. Penner tied the game with a two-run single with one out before Metzgar doubled him home to give CSUB it's first lead of the day. Grotjohn singled to right-center to score Metzgar and make it 7-5.

Naithen Dewsnap came in and retired the side in order in the eighth and ninth, striking out three, to earn his seventh save. Isaiah Moten (3-3) pitched a scoreless inning and relief and got the win while Kaden Schmitt (0-4) took the loss.

Erlandson, Peterson and Trevor Howell each had two hits to lead Utah Valley while Penner was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

The Wolverines return home next weekend to host Chicago State in a WAC series beginning Friday night at 6 p.m. MT. The teams will wrap up the series on Saturday, April 22 with a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. MT.