OREM, Utah -- Utah Valley University dropped both ends of a Saturday doubleheader (11-1 and 4-1) in WAC softball and were swept in the three-game series by Seattle University.
After seeing the Redhawks (28-14, 7-2) score double-digit runs in each of the first two games of the series, UVU starter
Payton Hammond limited the Redhawks in the series' final game. Hammond was stung by a three-run fifth inning, in which four consecutive two-out singles from Seattle U produced the runs that became the difference in the game. The Wolverines (12-22, 4-8) got their run in the sixth after
Abby Doughty tripled to lead off the inning and scored on a base hit from
Brianna Moeller.
Two batters later, SU starter Andie Larkins escaped more trouble when
Basia Query hit a rocket towards the middle that shortstop Breanna Timmons snared on one hop and then stepped on second and threw to first for an inning-ending double play. Query was 1-for-3 with loud outs both times she was retired. Query also nabbed two would-be base stealers in the game.
Moeller and
Berlyn Carreon had two hits apiece for the Wolverines while three Seattle U players had two-hit games. Hammond's complete-game effort on the mound earned her the Wilkinson Trophy Player of the Game.
In Saturday's first game, the Redhawks took early control, scoring five times in the top of the first. That came on the heels of a seven-run, first-inning outburst on Friday afternoon in the series opener. With Seattle U in front 2-0 in the first, Carley Nance hit a three-run home run to cap the big inning. Nance also scored three runs in the game.
The Redhawks added two in the third and three more in the fourth to take a commanding 11-0 lead. The Wolverines avoided the shutout when
Madison Sisco homered in the fifth, earning her the Wilkinson Trophy Player of the Game. The contest ended in five innings via the eight-run rule. Shianne Smith limited UVU to just three hits in the game with
Abby Doughty getting one of those hits and going 1-for-1 with two walks to reach base three times.
The Wolverines are slated to play a midweek contest on Tuesday at BYU at 6 p.m. MT before traveling to California Baptist for a three-game WAC series next Friday and Saturday.
