After giving up a pair of runs to College of the Desert in the top of the first inning Wednesday evening, the San Bernardino Valley College softball team had the game tied within it first four batters.

The Wolverines scored once more in the inning, and never trailed the rest of the way, answering every Desert score with more of their own as SBVC won its first Inland Empire Athletic Conference game of the season, 9-4.

Nevaeh McGruder led off the bottom of the first with a sharp single up the middle. Jordan Knighton was hit by a pitch and Stephanie Varela singled up the middle to load the bases. Aliza Henriquez followed with a single to left-center to score McGruder and Knighton to tie the game. Kristina Sandoval's fly out allowed Varela to move to third, and she scored on a ground out by Analisa Gonzalez to give SBVC a 3-2 lead after one.

Desert tied the game with an unearned run in the top of the fourth, but the Wolverines answered back again.

Sandoval led off with a single to left, and Gonzalez reached when her bunt attempt was misplayed by pitcher Alyssa Martinez Sanchez. Alani Lopez singled to left to load the bases, and Hailey Espinoza doubled down the right field line to score Sandoval and Gonzalez. Abby Young followed that with a single to score Lopez and chase Martinez Sanchez from the circle. 

SBVC expanded its lead in the fifth thanks to a two-out rally. With Sandoval on first, Lopez and Espinoza each walked on four straight pitches to load the bases. Young singled home Sandoval and McGruder followed with a single up the middle to plate Lopez. The Wolverines tacked on another run in the sixth to seal the win.

Kaela Marin picked up the win for SBVC, going five innings and allowing eight hits and three earned runs. Sandoval pitched the final two innings, holding the Roadrunners scoreless.

Young ended the game going 2-for-3 with two runs batted in, while Sandoval was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI.