Feb. 7, 2009
Box Score
ST. GEORGE, Utah - Utah Valley University's softball team went one and one on day two of the season-opening Red Desert Classic in St. George, Utah as the Wolverines (2-1) downed Idaho State 7-3 in the night cap but fell to Loyola Marymount earlier on the day by score of 7-5.
"I am really happy with the way this weekend is playing out so far," UVU head softball coach Todd Fairbourne said. "I feel like the girls are showing up and overall we are playing pretty solid. If we come out and play well and get at least one more victory tomorrow we will have played over .500 ball to open the season and I'll be happy with that."
The second game of the afternoon against Idaho State (0-4) was close the entire way until Utah Valley broke the game open in the top of the seventh as junior Jessica Anderson hit a three run shot to deep left center to give the Wolverines the 7 to 3 lead. UVU held on in the bottom half of the inning to win by the same score, as the Wolverines starting pitcher freshman Amanda Perez finished her complete game victory facing only three batters to seal the victory for Utah Valley.
The Wolverines fell down 2-0 early in the game against the Bengals but UVU quickly battled back scoring three runs to take a 3-2 advantage in the top of the fourth inning. Lauren Augino had a big two-RBI single down the right field line in the inning as well as Magan Niemann followed up by knocking in Augino to give UVU the lead.
ISU quickly battled back squaring it up at three apiece in the bottom of the frame but UVU's lead-off batter in the top of the fifth, starting hurler, Amanda Perez hit a solo shot to deep left field to give the Wolverines the 4-3 advantage. The score would remain the same until Anderson's big blow in the seventh to seal the win for UVU.
In game one on the day UVU fell down 5-0 early to Loyola Marymount (3-1) as the Lions' offense went to work early, blasting four homers in the first four innings. Mia Sarah Cesena led the way for the Lions as she hit two homers herself in the game.
Utah Valley junior Amber Sackett started at the circle for the first time on the young season giving up all seven runs in three plus innings of work. The Wolverines pecked away at the score putting it within 5-3 and then cut it to 7-5 in the bottom of the seventh and had the tying run at the plate to end the game but couldn't complete the comeback as they fell to LMU, 7-5.
UVU was led again at the plate by senior Kylee Steadman as she went 2-fo-4 from the plate driving in four of the teams' five runs in the game. She knocked in her runs on a two-RBI single in the third and a late two-RBI double in the seventh. Perez drove in the teams' other run in the third as she drove a ball to deep left that ended up being a sacrifice fly but just missed being a grand slam by mere inches as LMU's left fielder reached up to make the catch.
UVU will finish play at the Red Desert Classic Sunday in St. George, as UVU will take on San Jose State at 11 a.m. and finish up against the University of Utah at 1:30 p.m.
