RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Utah Valley University softball dropped both of its games on Opening Day Friday at the Lynn Russell Miller Classic at UC Riverside. The Wolverines fell in five innings to Portland State, 13-1, and to host UC Riverside, 7-4.
In the opener against the Vikings (2-0), the Wolverines (0-2) were hurt by defensive miscues that dug them an early hole that was too big to get out of. Portland State put up crooked numbers in each of the first three innings: three in the first, five in the second and four more in the third. Three errors led to six of the 12 runs coming in unearned.
"We were a little rusty today and while we're not happy with the way things went we know it's a process and a long season," Thomson said. "Now we turn the page and get ready for tomorrow's game. I expect us to be ready to go."
UVU scored its run in the second after
Madison Carr reached on an infield single that scored pinch runner
Laynee Betancur.
Megan Gibbs collected her first career hit, in her first career at-bat, to lead off the inning. Later, Danyé Albritton also got her first career hit with two outs to extend the inning and bring Carr to the plate.
In the second game against UC Riverside, the Wolverines struck in the top of the first on
Rien Milliken's two-out RBI base hit. Linna Rebolledo and
Kalena Shepherd both doubled to put runners on second and third with one out in the inning and Shepherd later scored on Milliken's single. A two-out rally produced three runs for the Highlanders in the bottom of the first. A hit batter and walk preceded a two-run triple by Haylee Kela and Moana Pisia drove Kela in on a bunt single.
Gibbs led off the third with her first career home run to make it a 3-2 game, but UC Riverside responded with two more in the bottom of the inning. In the fourth, Rebolledo singled with one out, Shepherd walked and
Mikaela Thomson singled to load the bases. Gibbs drove home UVU's third run on a groundout that plated Rebolledo and
Kyla Hardy later earned an RBI when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, but the Highlanders stranded to bases loaded and preserved the one-run lead.
It was still a 5-4 game in the bottom of the sixth when UC Riverside got a pair of insurance runs including a one-out home run by Pisia. Both Rebolledo and Thomson had two hits each while Gibbs drove in two runs. Hela finished with three RBIs for the Highlanders.
The Wolverines are back in action on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. PT/12:30 p.m. PT against Pacific. The Tigers dropped their opener to Portland State, 14-3, and play the Vikings again on Saturday morning.
