Game 1 Box : Game 2 Box : Season Stats
OREM, Utah - The Utah Valley State softball team played Utah tough on Wednesday before losing both games of a doubleheader 5-0 and 5-3.
Trailing 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning in game 2, the Wolverines scored two runs with one out to cut the Ute lead to 5-3. The scoring started when Kelli Wilkins singled up the middle and Chris Jimenez reached on a fielder-??s choice. Rachel Hartgrove then singled to left field to load the bases to set up Amanda Kendzior 2 RBI single to right field.
Utah Valley then had runners on first and third but Utah pitcher Lindsie Nielsen struck out Shea Seever and forced Emily Cardenas to ground out to end the game.
-??We are always happy when you battle no matter who the opponent is,-?? Utah Valley State coach Todd Fairbourne said. -??We actually had chances even in the first game. Both games were very similar. You always want to have a chance and we did.-??
Amanda Kendzior led the Wolverines from the plate in the two games by going four for seven with 2 RBIs. Emily Cardenas also had two hits in the second game.
What bothered Fairbourne was that his team struck 22 times in the two games. In the second game Utah Valley struck out eight times looking.
In game 1, Utah pitcher Brianna Gourdin and Utah Valley State pitcher Jackie Roberts each had a no-hitter going through three innings. The Wolverines broke up the no-hitter in the third inning and the Utes broke up their no-hitter in the fourth inning when they scored two runs. Utah also added three runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Roberts and Gourdin did combine for 17 strikeouts in the game.
The Wolverines are back in action on Friday at 1 p.m. in a doubleheader against Northern Colorado.
