LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Utah Valley University opened the 2019 softball season by splitting two games including an 8-4 win over North Dakota in the night cap. The Wolverines (1-1) fell 9-0 to host UNLV earlier in the day.
GAME 1 vs UNLV – The Rebels pulled away with a five-run sixth inning to end the contest via the run rule. The Wolverines threatened in the first inning after
Brianna Moeller singled to lead off but couldn't push a run across.
UNLV got a run in the bottom of the first and the score remained 1-0 until a two-run fourth gave the Rebels a cushion.
In addition to Moeller,
Lyndsay Steverson and
Kaylee Bott also had hits for Utah Valley while Lauren Tycksen had two hits and scored three times for the Rebels.
Jenny Bressler (2-0) got the complete-game win for UNLV while
Brylee Marziale lasted into the sixth in her first career start and took the loss.
GAME 2 vs North Dakota – The Wolverines bounced back in a late-night game against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, splitting the day of competition with a handful of RBIs and home runs from multiple Wolverines.
Utah Valley went up early in the competition, at 2-0 in the second inning with Steverson crossing home plate for the Wolverines on an RBI double from
Linnah Rebolledo and freshman
Abby Doughty belting out the first home run of the 2019 season for UVU.
After a run from the Wolverines on an RBI double from
Brianna Moeller in the top of the fourth and a pair from UND in the bottom of the frame, the scoreboard remained tight at 3-2 after four innings. UVU then managed to piece together a five-run fifth inning to seal the victory for the Wolverines. With Steverson on second and pinch runner
Abbie Tuttle on third following a sacrifice bunt from Rebolledo, Doughty started the scoring in the big inning with an RBI single to left. Bott then followed with a two-run double to left field and freshman
Karleigh Olsen managed to push home a run via the bunt to make it 7-2. The senior Moeller the capped the inning with a solo homer to center to put the game out of reach at 8-2.
UND battled back with a late run in the sixth and another in the last of the seventh, but it wasn't enough as UVU held on for the 8-4 victory.
Moeller, Steverson and Doughty led UVU in the contest with two hits apiece and each Moeller and Doughty drove home a pair of runs. Bott too tallied a pair of RBIs by going 1-for-4 with a run scored.
Devyn Cretz went the distance in her first appearance in a Wolverine uniform in the circle to earn the victory. Cretz gave up just four runs while striking out five and scattering nine hits. Jannay Jones was tagged with the loss for the Fighting Hawks.
The Wolverines will turn around and play Saturday morning in a pair of games (Feb. 9), starting with a 9:00 a.m. MT contest against Seton Hall, followed by an in-state battle against Southern Utah at 2:00 p.m. MT.
For more information on the Wolverines contest in the Marucci Desert Classic, click
here.
