Feb. 11, 2012

Box Score

St. George, Utah - The Utah Valley softball team took an early 3-0 lead over Southern Utah Saturday in its season opener and took care of business as it held on to defeat the Thunderbirds 5-2 at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah.

"We got enough offensive production today to get the victory. But I really think it was our pitching and defense that made the difference," said UVU head coach Todd Fairbourne. "Our infield was just solid all day, as Jessica Uresti and Krystin Jachim both made a couple of sweet plays."

UVU (1-0) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as it tacked on three unearned runs in the top of the first inning, thanks to two T-Bird (0-1) errors. Deianna Russell had the lone RBI in the frame, as she drove home Marie Williams on a fielder's choice.

The Wolverines held their 3-0 advantage until the fourth inning, when Southern Utah managed to score a run off of newcomer Tiffany Mills on two, two-out singles.

Utah Valley then immediately answered back with two more runs of its own in the top of fifth to pull ahead 5-1. Amanda Robinson led off with a walk and Krystin Jachim doubled her home two batters later. Russell then drove home Jachim via a groundout for her second RBI of the contest.

The T-Birds tacked on a late run in the seventh inning but Mills countered by retiring the next two batters to pickup the complete game victory in her Wolverine debut. Mills pitched seven innings and allowed just two runs on six hits. She also struck out three in her UVU debut.

Offensively Williams led the way by going 2-for-4 with two singles.

The Wolverines and Thunderbirds will conclude the quick two-game series with a Sunday matinee at 1 p.m. at Dixie State College.