PROVO, Utah –The BYU softball team grabbed an 8-5 comeback win in game one against CSU Bakersfield on Saturday at Gail Miller Field, but couldn’t produce offense in game two, falling 3-1 to split games with the Roadrunners.

BYU still remains atop the Pacific Coast Softball Conference with a 15-5 record and a 26-23 overall, while CSU Bakersfield improves to 15-31 and 10-14 in conference play.

Game 1

CSU Bakersfield held a 3-0 lead through the first four innings but BYU fought back, scoring eight runs in the fifth and sixth, for an 8-5 final and the win.

After two scoreless innings, CSU Bakersfield struck first. With one out in the top of the third, Roadrunner Karissa Veiga doubled to advance her teammate. Cougar pitcher Hannah Howell struck out the next batter, but Laura King's hit to center field brought in both runners to give CSU Bakersfield a 2-0 advantage.

BYU's Lacey Millett did her best to get the Cougars on the board, getting a single and then stealing two bases, but was stranded on third in the bottom of the third.  

Not letting up, the Roadrunners scored again in the fourth with a RBI sacrifice fly from Madison Bundy to bring in teammate Shay Fryer.

CSU Bakersfield got two singles to start the fifth inning, and after BYU switched pitchers to Caroline Umphlett, King walked to load the bases. With the Roadrunners poised to put more runs on the board, BYU's Gordy Bravo made a great catch in the outfield to strand all three runners and hold the score at 3-0.

The Cougars took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Bravo had an RBI-single to right field and Katie Manuma had two RBI with a two-bagger to left center. Carly Duckworth came in to run for Manuma, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored after Alexandra Hudson Shamo blooped a single over the third baseman's head. BYU went up 4-3 at the start of the sixth.

BYU carried the momentum into the sixth inning, scoring four more runs for an 8-3 lead. Clayton, Jenna Goar and Bravo all had RBIs while Madisen Robb, Bailie Hicken, Goar and Bravo each scored in the inning.

CSUB's Sydney Raeber had two RBI in the seventh inning to try and regain the lead but BYU held out for the 8-5 victory. Umphlett earned her second win in as many days to improve to 3-1 on the season.

Game 2

BYU out-hit CSU Bakersfield 5-2 in the game, but the Roadrunners took advantage of seven walks to avoid the sweep.

Tori Almond sat down the first three batters she faced to start game two, striking out the first and third batters and forcing a ground ball that was fielded by third baseman Robb. In the bottom of the first, however, the Roadrunners followed suit with three consecutive outs of their own.

The game stayed quiet in the second and third. BYU's JC Clayton was able to grab the team's first hit of the day on a bouncer up the middle.

In the top of the fourth, CSU Bakerfield’s King drove the ball down the left-field line and then Almond walked the next two batters to load the bases.  With two outs, Manuma came to the mound to replace Almond. Manuma hit the first batter and walked the second, which advanced two runners to give CSU Bakersfield the 2-0 lead. With the bases still loaded, Almond came back to the mound and forced a line drive to first base for out number three.

The Roadrunners added a security run in the top of the sixth. With a runner on second and two outs, Howell, who had come in relief of Almond, surrendered a double that scored the run to put CSU Bakersfield up 3-0.

Hicken led off the bottom of the frame with an infield single, but BYU’s offense couldn’t back her up to head into the seventh without a run on the board.

BYU looked to start a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. Manuma singled to right center and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Shamo singled on an 0-2 count to place runners on the corners and then Taualii pushed in the first run for BYU on a single to left field. Robb gave up the first out on a batter’s interference, but was followed by a walk to Goar to load the bases. However, CSU Bakersfield held strong and got the next two outs to avoid the sweep in its last conference series of the season.

BYU will play a doubleheader on Tuesday against Southern Utah at home starting at 5 p.m. MDT.

PROVO, Utah--The BYU softball team will play CSU Bakersfield this weekend at Gail Miller Field in doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday to kick off an 11-game home stand which will close out the regular season for the Cougars. 

Friday's doubleheader will begin at 5 p.m. MDT with the second game starting 30 minutes after the completion of game one. Saturday's doubleheader will start at 1 p.m. MDT and game two will also begin 30 minutes after the completion of the first game. 

QUICK HITS

• BYU is currently on a six-game winning streak, its longest of the season, and is over .500 for the first time this year with a 23-22 record. 
• Senior pitcher Hannah Howell earned her first PCSC Pitcher of the Week honor after holding Santa Clara scoreless in 12 innings pitched on Friday and Saturday. 
• Gordy Bravo and JC Clayton are currently on six-game hitting streaks. Clayton is just two stolen bases away from tying the all-time career record at BYU. 
• This will be just the second time BYU has played CSU Bakersfield. The Cougars have yet to beat the Roadrunners and have never played them in Provo. CSU Bakersfield is 9-11 in PCSC play and this will be their last conference series. BYU leads the conference at 12-4 and has one more conference series against Saint Mary's. 

OPPONENT NOTES

The Roadrunners come to Provo for their last conference series of the season, before closing out the regular season against No. 20 UCLA. CSU has taken at least a game from each team in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference, but has only won one conference series against Santa Clara, going 3-1 against the Broncos. The Roadrunners were 2-2 against LMU, 1-3 against UVU, 2-2 against San Diego and 1-3 against Saint Mary’s to compile a record of 9-11 in the PCSC. Senior Laura King, junior Karissa Veiga and junior Shay Fryer are all hitting above .300 on the season. Veiga leads the team in conference statistics with a .421 clip, 24 hits and nine runs scored. Fryer has added 10 RBI in PCSC play and provides power in the lineup with eight doubles, one triple and two home runs on the season. King leads the team in season-average, hitting .373 alongside a team-high .482 slugging percentage.

Underclassmen Kelsie Monroe and Amber Mills have seen a majority of the time this season from the mound and have combined for all 14 team wins this year. Monroe, a sophomore, is 10-16 alongside a 3.41 ERA and 102 strikeouts. Freshman Mills has given up just 50 earned runs in 24 appearances to grab a 3.42 ERA. 

The Roadrunners have only turned five double plays this season to the Cougars' 16 and have only 32 stolen bases on the year to BYU’s 63. BYU has also allowed just 31 runs in conference play to CSU’s 72. 

LAST CONFERENCE SERIES

The BYU softball team swept Santa Clara (3-0, 3-0, 3-0, 11-0) in its last away conference series of the season on Friday and Saturday. The Cougar pitching and defense combined to hold the Broncos to just seven hits in four games and didn't allow a single run to cross the plate. Hannah Howell and Tori Almond each went 2-0, giving up three hits apiece. Clayton and Bravo each hit a .500 clip against the Broncos. Clayton scored five runs and had two RBI and two stolen bases, while Bravo added three RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Bailie Hicken also tied career highs in runs scored and RBI with two apiece, while also grabbing a career-high three hits, including her first career double in game four against the Broncos. 

WHERE TO WATCH

All four games on Friday and Saturday will be broadcast live on BYUtv. Games can also be followed online via live stats.