Reporter
On Friday, April 27, the CSU Bakersfield softball team went up against the Utah Valley Wolverines in a double header that resulted in two losses both by single runs. In the first game, the Roadrunners failed to hold on to what was a commanding lead and in their second game they failed to make it a comeback. CSUB lost 8-7 in game one and 2-1 in game two to Utah Valley at the Roadrunner Softball Complex.
“In games like the first one, we need to put our foot on the gas. We got content and sat back. After the third inning we had four, three-up-three-down, innings. We can’t do that. We need to continue to put the pressure on and finish,” said Head Coach Crissy-Buck Ziegler.
After going up 7-0 in the first three innings in game one, the Roadrunners did take their foot off the gas and went on to lose 8-7. Four of those eight runs would take place at the top of the seventh and CSUB would be unsuccessful at the bottom of the seventh trying to regain the lead. Junior Chris Hipa was a bright spot in a tough loss hitting a home run and finishing the game with three RBIs.
“Yeah, I would say that we are beginning to progress with practice and we our really peeking to our time of season and it’s just, getting it done and getting the reps,” said Hipa.
Utah Valley junior Madison Sisco gave CSUB a tough time with her bat, hitting 2-4, with three RBIs in game one.
Game two was a tough battle between the two pitchers. The final score would end 2-1 in favor of Utah Valley. Freshman Daryn Hitzel only allowed two runs in the third and fourth inning. Sophomore Karah Wiseman contributed to the sound defense but it wasn’t enough as offensively the Roadrunners struggled to get on base.
“We played great defensively, but may have been a little too content offensively. We needed to piece our hits together at the right time and we should of kept going for it,” said Wiseman.
At the bottom of the seventh, down by one, the Roadrunners got a lead-off base hit but that was CSUB’s last hit and the seventh closed out with Utah Valley taking both games in the double header.
CSUB (6-35, 3-11 WAC) and UVU (18-23, 9-4 WAC) are scheduled to wrap up the series on Saturday, April 28 at 1 p.m. Saturday’s game will be the last regular game of the season and the CSUB Roadrunners will honor their seniors ten minutes before first pitch.
Photo by Aaron Mills/ The Runner
