SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Utah Valley University's bats came alive to earn a doubleheader split at UC Santa Barbara in a Tuesday doubleheader. The Wolverines fell 7-3 in game one before rebounding with an 11-1 win in five innings in the night cap.
UVU (6-9) finished 13 hits in the win with
Linnah Rebolledo going 3-for-4 and driving in five, including three on a bases loaded triple during a five-run fourth inning.
Siena Sandoval went 3-for-3 while
Madison Carr and
Jade Miller collected two hits apiece. Carr and
Basia Query — who had two RBIs — both scored three times for the Wolverines.
Rebolledo doubled home Miller during a two-run first and later scored on a passed ball to give UVU an early 2-0 lead. She also singled home Query in the second during another two-run frame, and the Wolverines led 4-0 after two.
In the fourth, the first five hitters of the inning all reached for the Wolverines. Carr singled, Query was hit by a pitch and then Miller singled to load the bases before Rebolledo's triple — on a line shot over the centerfielder's head — gave Utah Valley 7-0 advantage. Sandoval singled home Rebolledo and then, two batters later,
Aubree Hogan delivered her first hit and RBI with a single up the middle.
The Gauchos (3-12) got one run on a sacrifice in the bottom of the fourth, but Query tripled with Carr at first and then scored the 11th run when the throw got away from the catcher.
Devyn Cretz tossed a complete game for the Wolverines, striking out three without allowing a walk to earn the win.
In the first game of the midweek twin bill, UCSB scored single runs in the first two innings to take an early 2-0 lead. The Wolverines were held hitless until the third when Query doubled home Miller — who was hit by a pitch with two outs — from first.
A five-run fourth inning helped the Gauchos build a 7-1 lead. Query drove home
Emery Nielson and Carr with a seventh-inning single and finished the game 2-for-4 with all three UVU RBIs.
Utah Valley now heads to UC Riverside for Wednesday doubleheader against former Wolverine head coach Nikki Palmer. First pitch is set for noon PT/1 p.m. MT.
