March 31, 2009

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

OREM, Utah - Utah Valley University's softball team split a doubleheader with Utah State Tuesday at MSTAR Field after coming from behind to upend the Aggies (8-22) 6-5 in game one but fell 7-0 in game two.

The Wolverines (12-18) trailed 5-2 heading into the sixth inning in game number one. Big hits and timely errors by Utah State helped UVU prevail as they successfully came back winning in the bottom of the seventh on a walk-off single off of the bat of senior Kylee Steadman.

"It would have been nicer if we would have put up more of a fight in the second game," UVU head coach Todd Fairbourne said. "I am glad we came back in game number one. It took a critical blow in a critical spot by Cherylyn McGraw for us to comeback. Kylee Steadman also came through with the winning hit as well. Meghan Woodworth was huge for us today with an overall outstanding day from the plate. Weather permitting hopefully we will come out and protect our home field this weekend against Houston Baptist."

In the first game on the day the Aggies jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead as they drove home two runs in the top of the first. UVU quickly answered as the leadoff batter Meghan Woodworth hit a solo home run to straight away center field to cut the deficit in half, 2-1. USU extended its lead to 3-1 in the third largely thanks to an error on the Wolverines. Utah Valley answered back with a run of its own in the last of the third as Amber Sackett doubled home Lauren Augino putting the score at 3-2.

Both starters settled down not allowing any runs to come across in the fourth inning. In the top of the fifth the Wolverines starter Jessica Martin walked the leadoff hitter and hit the second batter with a pitch. Martin then muffed the throw on a sacrifice bunt attempt which ended up hurting her as two Aggies scored in the frame. USU took the 5-2 advantage. In the bottom of the fifth Woodworth hit a leadoff double but was stranded on base and didn't score in the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth UVU cut the lead to one as Cherylyn McGraw blasted a two-run homer to left. The home run was McGraw's third of the season. The McGraw's big blow came with no outs in the inning but USU's starter Lindsey Benson then retired the Wolverines next three batters in order as the Aggies still held the 5-4 lead.

The score remained 5-4 heading into the last of the seventh when UVU rallied thanks to two large Aggie errors and scored two runs to win the game. Woodworth reached on an error on the second baseman to leadoff the inning. Megan Kisner then bunted her into scoring position laying down a picture perfect sacrifice bunt. Magan Niemann then hit a scorcher to deep center that USU's center fielder dropped causing the tying run to score. Sackett then singled and Kylee Steadman came through in the clutch, as she drove home the winning run with a sharp single through the right side of the infield giving the Wolverines the come-from-behind walk-off victory.

In the second game of the doubleheader the Aggies came out swinging the bats as the leadoff batter Megan McDonald slugged a solo home run to give them a 1-0 lead right out of the gates. USU then tacked on five more runs in the third thanks in large part to a three-run home run off the bat of Jasmine Harris. The Aggies also drove home a solo run in the fourth taking a 7-0 advantage.

The game would finish with the 7-0 score as Utah State's starting hurler Kate Greenough overpowered the Wolverines pitching a complete game shutout. Greenough only allowed five hits and struck out eight for USU. Woodworth led the way for UVU as she produced three of the teams' five hits in game number two with two doubles and a single. Sackett and Steadman had the other hits in the second game for Utah Valley.

Jessica Martin started both games from the circle for UVU and picked up a win and loss on the day moving her season record to 7-9.

UVU will be back in action this Friday and Saturday as they welcome the Huskies of Houston Baptist to MSTAR Field. The two teams will square off in a four-game series with doubleheaders each day. Action will begin at 2:30 p.m. Friday and 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.