May 17, 2010

Box Score

DALLAS - Utah Valley's 2010 softball season came to an end Monday with a 3-1 loss to South Dakota in a loser-out contest at the Great West Conference tournament.

Both team managed just three hits, but the Coyotes took advantage of three UVU errors en route to the victory.

"Overall we had a great season, but this isn't how I wanted it to end," UVU softball coach Todd Fairbourne said. "We lost this game because we played poorly, but I have to give credit to Mandy (Tapia) and Jess (Martin) for stepping up after the loss of our two other pitchers. They pitched well enough to win."

The Wolverines (28-31) finished second in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Mountain Division, and third in the postseason GWC tournament after entering as the No. 1 seed. They also finish the season with a NCAA Div. I school record for wins in a season.

Martin suffered the loss, but she allowed just on earned run on two hits in 3 2/3 innings, and reliever Tapia allowed just one hit it 2 1/3 innings. She struck out three and walked just one.

Meghan Woodworth, Megan Gardner and Amber Sackett had the Wolverines' hits, and Gardner scored UVU's lone run in the top of the fourth in a passed ball. She had a base hit earlier in the frame.

The Wolverine stranded three runners, while the Coyotes stranded nine. USD scored a run in the second on one hit and two UVU miscues, and scored two runs in the third on one hit and one UVU error.

Gardner, Woodworth, and Martin were named to the all-tournament team.