March 28, 2009
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
OREM, Utah - Jessica Anderson hit a grand slam and Amanda Perez hit a three-run homer to help UVU split a doubleheader against Idaho State Saturday at MSTAR Field as the Wolverines (11-17) won game two, 11-2 in five innings but fell in game one to the Bengals (11-16), 8-2.
"When our pitchers give us a chance to win we are very good, when they don't we are not so good," UVU head softball coach Todd Fairbourne said. "Things usually turn out well for you when you are hitting balls out of the yard and that is what happened today. I am proud of our team for bouncing back. Jessica Martin did a great job out there today. Idaho State plays very hard but we were able to play hard in the second game and beat them."
In game number two the Wolverines drove home five runs on four hits in the bottom of the second to go up 5-1 over the Bengals. Freshman Amanda Perez had the big blow in the frame as she crushed a three-run homerun down the leftfield line. The homer was Perez's third of the season tying her at the time for the team lead in that department. Junior Jessica Anderson and senior Lauren Augino also drove home runs in the big inning for UVU.
Idaho State battled back with a lone run of its own in the third cutting the lead to 5-2. Freshman starting pitcher Jessica Martin closed down the door the rest of the way from the circle as she didn't allow another Bengal runner to score. Martin picked up the win improving to 6-8 and went the distance, in the five inning affair, only allowing four hits and one earned run. Martin also struck out three in the win.
In the bottom of the fourth UVU would put the game out of reach as senior Magan Niemann drove home a run with a sharp single into right. With the bases loaded junior Cherylyn McGraw drew a walk picking up a RBI in the process to give Utah Valley a 7-2 advantage. The next batter, junior Jessica Anderson sealed the victory for the Wolverines as she hit a no doubt grand slam to straight away leftfield, putting the score at 11-2. With the grand slam Anderson now leads the team in homers with four on the season and also finished with five RBI in game number two.
Earlier in the afternoon in game number one, Idaho State struck first as they scored an unearned run in the top of the second. UVU then countered tying the game at one in the bottom of the frame when senior Kylee Steadman blasted a solo homer to right. The homerun was Steadman's third of the season. ISU starter Kandis Clesson then settled down putting up zeros for the next four innings. In the sixth junior Amber Sackett hit the Wolverines second solo homerun as she belted her first round tripper of the season to deep left.
The two solo homers were the only runs of the game for Utah Valley as the Bengals won game one 8-2. The Wolverines couldn't capitalize on scoring opportunities as they stranded eight runners on base in the game and also had five total errors. ISU hit three home runs in the game off of UVU's starter Amanda Perez including a two home run day for Jessica Baca, who finished with three total RBI. Perez took the loss for UVU allowing eight hits and six earned runs. Clesson was credited with the win as she pitched the complete game and only allowed two runs.
The Wolverines will be back in action at home again next week, first playing a doubleheader against in-state rival Utah State Tuesday beginning at 2:30 p.m. UVU will also play a four-game weekend series against Houston Baptist Friday and Saturday, with doubleheaders each day.
