CALDWELL, Idaho - Utah Valley University's softball team ruined the College of Idaho's home openers as the Wolverines (6-9) defeated the Lady Yotes (4-9) twice on Friday, 4-0 and 5-3. Jessica Martin led the way as she picked up her first two wins on the season, pitching two complete games.
"I am very proud of Jessica Martin today," UVU head coach Todd Fairbourne said. "After last weekend I challenged Martin to make adjustments, pitch around the plate, and compete. She did a tremendous job of that. Besides Magan Niemann we didn't drive the ball as well as we have been lately, but we will work on that for tomorrow against Boise State."
Utah Valley freshman pitcher Jessica Martin improved to 2-4 on the season as she went the distance in both games on the day. In the first game Martin allowed only three hits as she shutout C of I. Martin struck out seven total batters on the day and also lowered her season ERA by 4 points dropping it from 10.31 to 6.28.
Senior Magan Niemann continued her hot hitting as she went 3-for-4 in the first game, including driving in the first run on the day with a RBI single into left field in the first inning. Niemann drove in her teammate and leadoff hitter sophomore Meghan Woodworth who walked to start the game. On the day Niemann went a combined 5-for-8 improving her season batting average to a sizzling .479.
The score remained 1-0 until the sixth inning when UVU pushed across an unearned run as the Lady Yotes right fielder dropped the third out of the inning allowing Woodworth to score her second run of the game. In the top of the seventh the Wolverines drove home two more insurance runs as junior Jessica Anderson singled and scored a run as well as capitalizing on another C of I error as they scored another unearned run. In total the College of Idaho had four errors in the ballgame compared to only one by UVU.
The Wolverines got on the score board early in game number two as they knocked in two runs in the top of the first to continue right where they left off from earlier in the day. Senior right fielder Lauren Augino reached on a bunt single, stole second, and came around to score as fellow Niemann continued her hot hitting as she drove in Augino with a solid single to center. Junior Cherylyn McGraw followed up with a sacrifice fly to right center to drive home the second run in the first.
Utah Valley took a 4-0 lead in the second game as they scored another pair of runs in the second inning as freshman Maggie Christianson drove home a run as well as Jessica Anderson reached on an error and came around to score also. The College of Idaho finally answered as they scored their first run of the day in the fourth but Utah Valley went on top 5-1 as the Wolverines scored the very next inning.
The Lady Yotes made it interesting in the bottom of the fifth as they scored two more runs, trailing only by two. Martin was too much as she continued her dominance in the circle on the day finishing off the game without allowing any more runs.
The Wolverines as a team swiped seven bases on the day, helping them win both games.
Utah Valley will play four more games this weekend in Idaho as the Wolverines will play a double header Saturday at Boise State beginning at 1:00 p.m. UVU will finish up on Sunday on neutral field with another twin bill as they will take on Eastern Oregon.
