OREM—After dropping an 8-4 decision in game one, Utah Valley came back to secure a 9-1 win in game two as the Wolverines split a series-opening WAC double-header against Seattle U on Friday afternoon at Wolverine Field in Orem.
Kalena Shepherd was 5-for-7 with four RBIs over the course of the twin bill for the Wolverines (11-12, 2-3), while
Katie Zuniga held the Redhawks (17-14, 3-2) to just one run on four hits with a trio of strikeouts in the win.
"I was really happy with how we responded in that second game. Some of our kids who we had in the lineup for their defense stepped up and had some big hits," said UVU head coach
Cody Thomson. "And Katie was just consistent out there and mixed speeds up and trusted the process. Seattle's a really good team so this is a good win for us."
Game 1
Seattle U scored seven runs in the top of the third inning to secure an 8-4 win over Utah Valley in game one of the double-header.
After holding Seattle U scoreless in the top of the first, Utah Valley got on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning as
Madison Carr singled and then scored from second on a Shepherd double down the right field line as Utah Valley went up 1-0 after one inning of play.
Seattle U responded in the top of the third inning as Carley Nance hit a grand slam to give the Redhawks a 4-1 lead. SU then scored three more runs in the inning as the Redhawks jumped out to a 7-1 lead.
Utah Valley's
Peyton Prigge singled down the right field line to open the bottom of the fifth inning. She shen advanced to second after a
Laynee Betancur walk. Carr then singled to advance Betancur to second and Prigge to third.
Linnah Rebolledo then grounded out to second to help Prigge across the plate to cut the SU lead to a 7-2 advantage. Shepherd then nearly hit it out of the park as she hit the bottom of the left center fence for her second double of the game, scoring both Carr and Betancur to get UVU to within three runs, 7-4.
The Redhawks loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth inning. Kamryn Coleman hit the ball to UVU shortstop Danyé Albritton who picked it up and collided with SU runner Brooke Milder, who was called out as Madison Kahwaty scored to give SU an 8-4 lead.
Shepherd led the Wolverines with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate with three RBI and a pair of doubles. Carr went 2-for-4 with two scored runs.
Brooke Carter pitched 2.1 innings with four strikeouts in the loss, while
Joslyn Thieme worked 4.1 innings in the circle with one strikeout.
Game 2
Zuniga went the distance in the circle and Shepherd and
Jaeden Barajas each went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Utah Valley to a 9-1 win in five innings in game two.
UVU held the Redhawks scoreless in the top of the first and then went to work in the bottom half of the inning.
Madison Carr walked and then advanced to second on a
Linnah Rebolledo single to the left side. The two runners then rounded the bases on a pair of wild pitches with Carr scoring and Rebolledo advancing to third. Shepherd then singled through the right side to score Rebolledo. Barajas doubled to left field to score Shepherd as UVU took an early 3-0 lead after one inning of play.
After a scoreless second inning, Utah Valley's Shepherd singled to left center to open the bottom of the third inning.
Mikaela Thomson then singled to center before Barajas singled to left field to score Shepherd.
Megan Gibbs singled up the middle to score Thomson.
Rylee Thorpe reached on a fielder's choice and advanced Gibbs to third. Thorpe then caught the defense napping and swiped second base before the ball was dead, allowing Gibbs to steal home as UVU scored three more runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 6-0 lead into the fourth.
Seattle U got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning as Nance hit a solo home run over the right center fence for the Redhawks' lone run of the inning, cutting the UVU lead to a 6-1 advantage.
UVU did not score in the bottom half of the fourth and the Wolverines then held SU without a run in the top of the fifth.
Peyton Prigge singled to right in the bottom of the fifth before crossing the plate on a
Victoria Vasquez triple to right. Danyé Albritton then hit a triple to right to score Vasquez.
Laynee Betancur then hit a sacrifice fly to right center to score Albritton to give UVU the eight-run rule 9-1 victory.
Utah Valley will continue play at home against Seattle U on Saturday. First pitch in the rubber match is scheduled for noon. The game will be broadcast live on the WAC Digital Network.
