RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Katie Zuniga tossed her second complete game of the series and Mya Higareda went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and a go-ahead RBI single to propel Utah Valley to a 4-1 win against California Baptist on Saturday afternoon.
After taking the tough-luck loss on Friday in the series opener, Zuniga looked just as sharp as she held the Lancers to just one ER on six hits. Zuniga also struck out three and held CBU to just one hit — 1-for-8 overall — with runners in scoring position.
"Katie was great. She only gave up one earned run all weekend," said head coach Cody Thomson. "She has been getting better and better as the year goes on."
In just her second-career start, Higareda had herself a day at the plate, picking up her first-career double in the fourth and her first-career RBI on a single that broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth.
"Mya came up in a big role for us after injuries and did so great," said Thomson. "She got her first collegiate hit yesterday, and then caught fire in the final game to help us win. She blocked every ball and threw out every runner that tried to steal on her. I'm so proud of the hard work she's put in. It showed up today."
CBU struck first in the bottom of the first after a trio of singles up the middle plated a run. The Lancers would not get another hit with runners in scoring position for the rest of the afternoon.
Rylee Thorpe and Libbie Hawker each went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Thorpe's two-out double to right-center in the fifth set the table for Hawker, who tripled down the right field line to tie the game.
The Lancers' defense betrayed them in the top of the sixth after two errors coupled with three singles led to three Wolverine runs. Kassidy Stiles and Katelyn Bridgeman reached on an error and a hit-by-pitch to start the rally, then Higareda laced an RBI single to right to break the deadlock.
Taylor Wooten bunted for a hit, but nobody covered first for CBU as the throw sailed down the right field line. Bridgeman came around to score and Wooten and Higareda advanced an extra base. Thorpe then sent a single through the left side to bring in Higareda.
After the Lancers picked up three hits in the first, CBU never strung together more than a single hit in an inning for the rest of the day. The Lancers threatened in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out double, but Zuniga slammed the door by retiring the final four batters she faced.
The Wolverines will look to build off the momentum of Saturday's come-from-behind win with a pair of midweek games against in-state rivals this week. Utah Valley will travel up to Logan on Tuesday to face Utah State before returning home to host crosstown rival BYU on Wednesday. Tuesday's game versus the Aggies is scheduled for 4 p.m. MDT and will be streamed on the Mountain West Network. Wednesday's game against the Cougars is slated for 6 p.m. MDT and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
