Assistant Sports Editor
CSU Bakersfield softball hosted Utah Valley University on Saturday, April 28 for its final regular season game and honored four seniors: Summer Evans, Julea Cavazos, Maddi Clark, and Kaylynn Burt.
“It’s been a blessing, coach [Buck-Zielger] she has taught me so much,” said Burt on playing at CSUB.
The Roadrunners fell behind early and were unable to climb into contention, falling to the Wolverines 7-2.
“I thought we had a lot of fight. If we had a couple calls go our way, the momentum changes,” said CSUB Head Coach Crissy Buck-Zielger.
Utah Valley started it off early in the first when cleanup hitter Lyndsay Steverson hit a two-run homerun to left field, giving UVU a 2-0 lead.
A solo home run in the top of the second by Utah Valley extended the Wolverines lead to 3-0 and CSUB starter Summer Evans was relieved and freshman Daryn Hitzel came into relief. Evans went 2 innings giving up three runs on three hits.
Utah Valley continued the scoring in the top of the fourth all started with a hit-by-pitch. Back to back triples and a single drove in three runs and give the Wolverines a 6-0 lead.
The Roadrunners made things interesting in the bottom of the fourth. After a single by Burt, junior Chris Hipa slide into home with almost everyone thinking she was safe, but home plate umpire Laura Head thought otherwise calling her out at the plate.
The very next at bat saw sophomore Maxine Langenberg was thrown out at home after Cavazos hit the ball to the second baseman. Burt scored when Cavazos was caught in a rundown but was safe at second when Utah Valley tried to throw Burt out at home.
CSUB added one more run in the bottom of the fifth after a solo homerun by Arianna Felix, her first of the season, closing the gap to 6-2.
Utah Valley tallied one more run in the seventh to make it 7-2.
The Roadrunners threatened in the bottom of the seventh after three walks loaded the bases but a quick glove and throw by the Wolverines third baseman ended the inning and regular season for CSUB.
The Roadrunners now have their eyes on the Western Athletic Conference Championship Tournament, which will be in Las Cruces, New Mexico from May 9-12.
The Roadrunners will have a clean slate and hope to surprise people.
“We always peek at the right time. The past is the past,” said Cavazos.
