OREM, Utah — Utah Valley came up just short in its attempt sweep a second straight WAC series, falling 7-6 to Dixie State in the Old Hammer Rivalry between the in-state foes on Saturday. The game was delayed in the bottom of the third inning for over three hours due to lightning and rain, and later resumed amidst heavy wind and lower temperatures.
Kalena Shepherd accounted for all six of the UVU runs, with five RBIs and a pair of runs scored. She delivered a three-run double in the third inning and then scored on a base hit by
Mikaela Thomson. Shepherd hit her second home run in as many games in the seventh, a two-run shot to center, to get the Wolverines (18-19, 9-9) within a run. Thomson followed the homer with a base hit and was the potential tying run, but Dixie State starter Carissa Burgess got the next two hitters to secure the complete-game win.
Prior to the weather delay, the Trailblazers (16-27, 6-12) led 3-0 and Burgess had kept Utah Valley out of the hit column through two innings.
Laynee Betancur led off the third with a base hit up the middle and
Madison Carr was in the box with a 1-1 count when a lightning strike forced the teams off the field.
After three hours and 12 minutes, play resumed and Carr reached on a bunt single on the first pitch, extending her school-record streak of reaching base to 31 games. Carr was 7-for-10 with six runs scored in the series.
Linnah Rebolledo reached on an error to load the bases and Shepherd barreled up a pitch and lined it off the wall in center, clearing the bases and tying the game at 3-3. Thomson then drove her home with a base hit through the right side to give UVU the lead.
Dixie State came back with four runs in the fifth, all coming after there were two outs and nobody on. A single and a walk put two runners aboard before a pop up in the infield seemed to be the end of the inning. With the ball in the air, Danyé Albritton was moving to her right to make the play but collided with the runner from first and the Trailblazers caught a big break when the ball wasn't caught. A throwing error attempting to nab a runner at third got away and two runs scored on the playing, giving Dixie State a 5-4 lead.
The Trailblazers' Laura Lockard then delivered what was a big pair of insurance runs with a two-run home run down the line in left. Lockard was 3-for-3 with the home run and two doubles in the game.
The loss snapped a streak of six straight WAC wins for the Wolverines and resulted in a season split of six games between Utah Valley and Dixie State this season.
The Wolverines are now set to play at Utah on Monday at 5 p.m. before hosting Utah State next Wednesday at 2 p.m. Next weekend, UVU travels to Seattle U for a pivotal series in conference play.
