March 6, 2009

LMU Box Score
SU Box Score

LOS ANGELES - The Utah Valley University softball team (4-6) picked up a win and a loss Friday on the first day of the LMU Invitational. The Wolverines beat home-team Loyola Marymount 6-5 in the early game and fell to Seattle 9-2 in the late game.

Juniors Jessica Anderson and Cherylyn McGraw hit their second and third homeruns of the season, respectively, to propel UVU to it win over LMU. Senior Magan Niemann also went 3-for-8 on the day with three RBI.

"Amanda Perez pitched a great game, and we hit well all day," UVU head coach Todd Fairbourne said. "In the second game we outhit them, but we also hit some shots right at the outfielders. The difference was, in the first game our pitching gave us a chance, but we gave up too many walks early in the second game. We didn't play poorly. Our hits were spread throughout the order, and overall I'm pleased with the way we played today."

UVU jumped on top 1-0 in the first inning on a double steal with Niemann scoring on the play and Telarroja being called out in a rundown at second base. LMU tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the third then took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth.

The Wolverines knotted the score at 2-2 in the top of the fifth inning on a Niemann double down the left-field line that scored Woodworth from second base. They put two more on the board in the next inning on Anderson's two-run bomb. Utah Valley scored two more in the top of the seventh on McGraw's two-run jack to take a 6-2 lead.

Loyola Marymount threatened in the bottom of the seventh scoring three runs to pull to within one at 6-5, but Anderson put the game away with a putout from third base. Perez threw a complete game and gave up five runs on eight hits with no walks and no strikeouts to get the win.

The Wolverines gave up six runs in the top of the second inning against Seattle and were unable to climb back into the game. Niemann hit a two-RBI single in the bottom of the second, but those were the only two runs UVU would get in the game.

Utah Valley actually outhit Seattle in the game 10-8, but gave up four costly errors to lose 9-2. Freshman Jessica Martin picked up the loss after completing only one inning, and junior Amber Sackett threw the rest of the game and only gave up one earned run on seven hits with five walks and four strikeouts.

UVU's schedule at the LMU Invitational will continue Saturday as they take on St. Mary's at noon and Seattle again at 2 p.m.