Orem, UTAH — Utah Valley swept a WAC doubleheader over California Baptist on Friday afternoon with a 10-0 win in game one and an extra-inning 4-3 walk-off win in game two.
Katie Zuniga notched her first career shutout in the opener and
Rylee Thorpe hit her first home run as a Wolverine to walk it off in eight innings in the night cap.
Linnah Rebolledo went a combined 6-for-7 with a grand slam and five runs scored during the twin bill.
Brooke Carter also tossed a complete game in game two, striking out nine.
"Our pitchers really stepped up today and when we get outings like that, we can be a really good team," said UVU head coach
Cody Thomson. "Offensively, when we can set the tone early and score like that it allows us to keep putting the pressure on."
Game 1
Rebolledo went 2-for-3 at the plate with the grand slam for her fifth home run of the season and the team's fifth grand slam of the year.
After holding the Lancers scoreless in the top of the first, Utah Valley went to work in the bottom half of the inning as
Madison Carr walked and then advanced to second on a fielder's choice by Rebolledo. After
Kalena Shepherd walked to load the bases,
Mikaela Thomson ripped a double to left center to score both Carr and Rebolledo.
Megan Gibbs kept it going with a single to right field to help Shepherd cross the plate. Gibbs then stole second and advanced to third when the throw to second got away. That allowed Thomson to score, and the throw to third to attempt to get Gibbs was wide, allowing her to score as well. The Wolverines scored five runs on just two hits and two errors to take the early 5-0 lead.
Rebolledo doubles and scored to give UVU a 6-0 advantage in the second inning before her grand slam in the third pushed it to a 10-0. Thorpe and
Jaeden Barajas both singled to begin the inning and the bases were full with two outs when Rebolledo hit a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left.
The Lancers (24-22, 6-8) got a leadoff base hit to begin the fourth, but Zuniga retired the next six hitters to end the game in five. Zuniga recorded two strikeouts and gave up only four hits in earning her fifth win of the season.
Game 2
Utah Valley jumped ahead quickly again with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Carr got things started with a bunt single, Rebolledo singled to center, and Shepherd drove in Carr with a base hit. singled to right center to send Carr home and Rebolledo to third. Thomson then singled back up the middle to drive in Rebolledo to give the Wolverines a 2-0 lead after one inning of play.
CBU's Shelby Arbeiter singled to center in the top of the second to drive in Maile Olsen from second to get the Lancers a run and cut the UVU lead to a 2-1 advantage.
The score remained 2-1 until the fifth, when Rebolledo and Shepherd hit back-to-back doubles to give UVU a 3-1 lead. California Baptist came back to tie it in the sixth, with RBI hits from Olsen and Nicole Stark. Thorpe's game-winner came in the eighth with one out and secured the Wolverines' first series win in WAC play this season.
Rebolledo went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a double and two runs scored. Carr, Shepherd, and Thorpe each went 2-for-4. Utah Valley now looks for the series sweep over California Baptist on Saturday at Wolverine Field. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the WAC Digital Network.
