March 15, 2009

Box Score

CALDWELL, Idaho - Utah Valley University's softball team exploded offensively Sunday as the Wolverines (8-11) totaled 31 runs and 31 hits in a doubleheader against Eastern Oregon (2-8), winning 9-0 and 22-3.

UVU defeated Eastern Oregon in both games in five innings due to the mercy rule. Freshman Jessica Martin went the distance in both games from the circle and upped her season record to 4-5. In game number one Martin pitched a complete game one-hit shutout and also struck out six Mountaineers. Martin had a breakout weekend as she picked up all four of the Wolverines victories this past weekend in Idaho.

"The girls went out and took care of business today," UVU head coach Todd Fairbourne said. Obviously our hitting is at a higher level than their (Eastern Oregon's) pitching. I was happy with how our team really stepped up and performed well in every aspect today. Jessica Martin has really stepped up her game."

In game one sophomore Meghan Woodworth and freshman Amanda Perez both had multiple hits on the board to lead the Wolverines. Woodworth ledoff the game with a double and scored on a RBI hit by senior Magan Niemann. Senior Kylee Steadman followed up by driving home Niemann with another RBI in the top of the first. UVU put up seven more runs which would be more than enough for Martin as she pitched the one-hit shutout, as the Wolverines won game one 9-0.

Game two was when Utah Valley's offense erupted as the Wolverines tallied 23 hits and 22 runs in the game. All 15 Wolverines that had an at bat in the game all recorded a hit. The only player who did not get a hit on UVU's roster in the game was Martin, the starting pitcher, who was not in the batting lineup.

Starters Niemann, Steadman, junior Cherylyn McGraw, sophomore Samantha Telarroja all had multiple hits in the second game as well as junior Megan Kisner and freshman Courtney Jarrell came off the bench and recorded more than one hit as well.

Eastern Oregon only had one run in the game heading into the last of the fifth when the Mountaineers finally got a little something going as they hit a two-run homer off of Martin and scored another run but Martin was too much on the day as she finished them off and won both games.

The Wolverines went 4-2 in Idaho this weekend improving their season record to 8-11 overall.

Utah Valley will now come home to play its next 16-out-of-18 games at MSTAR Field. The Wolverines will welcome the Bears of Northern Colorado for a four game series this upcoming weekend, Friday and Saturday, March 20 and 21, with doubleheaders each day beginning at noon.