OREM, Utah — Madison Carr went 4-for-5 and became Utah Valley's single-season hits leader in an 11-6 win over New Mexico State on Friday afternoon.
Mikaela Thomson went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run and four runs scored as the Wolverines (21-24, 11-11) opened senior weekend with a win in the WAC series opener.
Carr's base hit to begin the bottom of the first gave her hit No. 66 and she ended the day sitting at 69 hits for the season. She also drove in UVU's first two runs of the game and took away two runs from the Aggies (10-35, 5-17) with a diving catch to end the third inning. Carr broke the previous record of 65 held by former infielder Rachel Hartgrove, who also served as interim head coach for one season.
"Madison has put in a ton of work with the drag bunt and that's something she didn't have previously in her college career," said UVU head coach
Cody Thomson, who is also Carr's uncle.
"I trust my uncle. I'm all bought in with him," said Carr. "He's coached me since I was eight, so we trust each other and understand each other. That, and hard work have helped me take this next step. It's important for me to put in the work and push my teammates as well so we can reach our full potential as a team."
New Mexico State scored twice in the first and added single runs in both the second and third innings and led 4-1 after the top of the third. Utah Valley tied it in the bottom half of the inning with Danyé Albritton driving in a run with a base hit to left.
Peyton Prigge also earned an RBI when she walked with the bases full before Carr singled into left center to tie it at 4-4.
All of UVU's offense came after there were two outs and nobody on base in the inning. The Wolverines also took advantage of two walks and two hit batters in the third. NM State pitching allowed nine free passes in the game: six walks and three hit batters.
The Wolverines took the lead in the fourth with another three-run frame. A wild pitch allowed pinch-runner
Brynne Hilton to score and
Karleigh Olsen delivered and two-run single later in the inning to give UVU a 7-4 lead.
After Hannah Lindsay hit a solo home run for the Aggies in the fifth, Utah Valley answered with a four-run bottom half of the inning. Carr singled and
Linnah Rebolledo reached when her sacrifice bunt got away at first.
Rylee Thorpe doubled both runners home and then later scored on Thomson's team-leading 11th home run of the season, a no-doubter to left.
Riley Carley gave the Aggies their second home run of the game, a solo homer in the top of the seventh. She had three hits in the game as NM State finished with 13 overall.
Katie Zuniga improved her record to 9-9 as she went the distance in the circle for the Wolverines.
The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon MT. After the games, Utah Valley's eight seniors will be honored as part of Senior Day.
