OREM, Utah — The Utah Valley Wolverines clinched their first series sweep of the season, taking both games of a doubleheader over the Abilene Christian Wildcats by a score of 10-4 and 7-2.
"We talk about scoring 5 and keeping them under 5, and we did that all weekend," said head coach Cody Thomson. "I'm very proud of the pitching staff for that. Jorja was a big one in [game two], being able to shorten the game for Brooke."
GAME 1
Katie Zuniga went the distance in the opener, striking out five while spreading out four runs across the afternoon. Zuniga was able to avoid the crooked number, holding ACU to just one run in each of the four innings it scored.
Libbie Hawker capped off her weekend with a pair of strong games at the plate. Hawker went 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs, and three runs scored in the opener. Hawker's triple sparked a three-run rally in the bottom half of the first after the Wildcats stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the top of the inning. Hawker then went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in the night cap.
The Wolverines led off the game with four-straight hits to chase ACU starter Talia Neilson from the game. Jaeden Barajas followed up Hawker's triple with an RBI single to left. Angelique Mann doubled to put two runners in scoring position for Megan Gibbs, who came inches away from a home run, but still cashed in a two-RBI double to extend the lead to three.
ACU put plenty of pressure on the Wolverines' pitching staff, but just couldn't find a consistent hit with runners on base. The Wildcats stranded nine runners on base in both games of the doubleheader, and 23 in total in the series.
ACU was able to push across a single run in the second, third, and fourth to tie the ballgame at 3. Laurén Schiek came on in relief of Neilson and kept Utah Valley's bats quiet, holding the Wolverines hitless until the fifth.
Utah Valley rallied for five runs in the fifth to take control of the game for good, as six-straight Wolverines reached base to start the inning. Taylor Wooten singled and Britney Moreno doubled to set the table for Hawker, who roped a single up the middle to bring in two runs.
Barajas and Mann walked to load the bases for Gibbs, who singled to drive in two more Wolverines. Danyé Albritton grounded out to short to bring in the final run of the rally.
After ACU rallied for one in the top of the sixth, Utah Valley rallied for two more runs to push the lead up to six. Mann drove in Moreno and Hawker to score the final two runs and cap off the 10-4 win.
GAME 2
Jorja Barrett started in the circle and struck out two while spreading two runs and seven hits across 4.1 innings. Barrett gave way to Brooke Saili, who came in and slammed the door on the Wildcats with 2.2 shutout innings to earn the save.
ACU struck first in the top of the first for one run, but the Wolverines were able to bounce back with a run in the bottom half to even things up without getting a hit. Two walks and a hit batter set the table for Rylee Thorpe, who delivered a sacrifice fly to bring home Barajas.
The two teams traded zeroes until the bottom of the fourth, when Gibbs was able to crank a two-run home run out to the opposite field in right. Three more Wolverines reached in the inning, but none were able to score.
The Wildcats cut the deficit in half in the top of the fifth to chase Barrett from the game. Saili came on and was able to get a strikeout and a flyout to strand runners at the corners.
Utah Valley extended the lead up to five with a four-run sixth inning. The big blow of the inning was a two-RBI single by Moreno through the right side.
The Wolverines are getting hot at the right time, as they are scheduled to play four games this week against teams that made the NCAA Tournament a year ago. Weather permitting, Utah Valley will host in-state foe and defending Big Sky champion Weber State for a midweek matchup on Tuesday at 4 p.m. MDT.
The Wolverines will then host defending WAC champion Grand Canyon for a three-game series at the weekend. All four games will be broadcast on ESPN+, and live stats will be available at UVUStats.com.
