March 19, 2008

Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score

OREM, Utah - The Utah Valley bats got off to a slow start but ignited late as the Wolverines split a double header with South Dakota State, losing 5-1 before winning 13-5 in six innings.

Junior college transfer Shelly Manuel came up big in game two for the Wolverines, going 3-for-4 from the plate with a double and four RBI. Heidi Stocks pitched well in both games and added a strong presence from the plate in game two, going 4-for-5 from the plate with the game-clinching RBI.

In game one, SDSU jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the top of the second. After Stocks retired the first four batters she faced, the next four came up with hits. Stacey Evans delivered the big blow in the inning on a three-run home run with one out in the inning.

The Wolverines struggled early from the plate, managing just one hit in the first three innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Jessica Anderson singled and stole second to get into scoring position. Abby Bowcutt delivered a two-out RBI single to trim the Jacks lead to 4-1.

SDSU responded with a run in the top of the sixth inning and held UV to just two hits over the final two innings.

Game two started in inauspicious fashion for the Wolverines as the Jackrabbits scored three unearned first inning runs. Brittany Postma delivered a two-out, two-run triple as the big blow.

Unfazed, the Wolverines came back in the bottom half of the first and put five runs on the board. UV sent nine batters to the plate in the inning. Meghan Woodworth led off the frame with a single and scored when Cherylyn McGraw smoked a two-run homer, her first of the season. Stocks singled and Anderson was hit by a pitch to bring up Manuel, who smoked a two-run double. Manuel later scored on a passed ball to give the Wolverines a 5-3 advantage.

The second inning was almost as explosive as the first as Woodworth and Alli Bramwell started the rally with back-to-back walks. Stocks loaded the bases with a single and Manuel delivered again two batters later with a two-run single. Bowcutt followed with her second RBI of the day on a single to score Anderson.

Magan Niemann led off the three-run third with a triple to left field and scored two batters later on a Bramwell RBI single. Woodworth, Bramwell and Anderson also scored runs as SDSU struggled defensively in the third, committing three errors in the inning.

The Jackrabbits scored twoice in the fifth and held the Wolverines off the scoreboard to prolong the game. UV clinched the game when Stocks smoked an opposite field double to plate McGraw, who had a two-out single.

In all, Utah Valley pounded out 18 hits as a team in game two. Each one of the nine starters had hits while five had multiple-hit games.

UV will return to action when the Wolverines take on their first in-state opponent in Utah State. The two teams will play a double header on March 25.