CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. — Brooke Saili tossed a complete game, allowing just one earned run while striking out four, and the Utah Valley softball team's bats broke out for 11 hits to topple the Portland State Vikings 12-2 at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
Four Wolverines had multiple hits, including a 3-for-4 night from Angelique Mann, who had a double and two RBIs. Taylor Wooten went 2-for-2 with 4 RBIs, including a bases-clearing double in the sixth at the heart of a five-run rally to ice the game for Utah Valley.
Kalena Shepherd went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Rylee Thorpe went 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored. Jaeden Barajas drove in two on a 1-for-3 night.
"It was exciting to see the bats start to come alive," said head coach Cody Thomson. "I know we are capable of being a great hitting team and tonight was a great example of that."
The Wolverines struck first in the second inning after Rylee Thorpe singled to open the inning. Thorpe then stole second and advanced to third after the throw kicked off her foot while sliding and shot toward left field. Wooten then brought her in later that at-bat with a sacrifice fly.
The first three batters in the top half of the fourth reached base on a walk, hit-by-pitch, and error. Mann singled to center to bring home Barajas. Libbie Hawker hit a chopper to third that brought in Thorpe to extend the lead to three.
Saili allowed just two baserunners through the opening three frames before giving up a solo home run in the fourth. The Vikings would only muster up one hit the remainder of the night.
"Brooke's continuing to pitch very well. Holding a team [like PSU] to just two hits is pretty remarkable," said Thomson. "She's adding to her pitches daily and starting to find her own with her change-up."
Three straight hits to open the fifth set the tone for the remainder of the evening. Shepherd singled to the opposite field to open the inning, then Megan Gibbs smashed a double down the left field line. Barajas then picked up a pair of RBIs with a double to left-center. After a single by Wooten to advance Barajas to third, Danyé Albritton brought in the third run of the inning on a perfectly executed safety squeeze.
The Wolverines pulled away in the sixth courtesy of a six-run rally. The first four batters reached, including two on hit-by-pitches. Shepherd drove in Katelyn Bridgeman for the first run of the inning. Thorpe kept the line moving with an RBI single to right-center. Wooten delivered the knockout blow with a bases-clearing double. Mann added one more for good measure, singling home Wooten two batters later.
PSU scored one more in the bottom half of the inning after a one-out double came around to score on an error. Saili battled through to win the game with a punchout and a flyout to center.
Utah Valley's night cap versus No. 19 Texas A&M was rained out after an inning and a half.
The Wolverines wrap up the weekend with one more game against the San Diego Toreros. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT and will start after the conclusion of No. 1 UCLA vs No. 2 Oklahoma on BLD Wrigley Field.
