PUERTO VALLARTA — Peyton Hall blasted her first collegiate homer and Halle Morris pitched 5.2 strong innings of relief, but the Utah Valley offense was only able to muster up two hits as the Wolverines fell 3-2 to the No. 13 Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday in Puerto Vallarta.
Rachael Brown stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 7th with a runner on third and sent a sinking line drive to left, but Samantha Bland was able to make a diving catch to secure the win for Nebraska.
Halle Morris allowed one run in 5.2 innings of relief for Payge Armendariz, who allowed two runs over 1.1 innings.
Utah Valley got a pair of runners on in the bottom of the first, but were unable to capitalize. Ry Binne walked and Amber Rodriguez singled up the middle, but the Huskers were able to get out of the jam.
A trio of hits in the second plated Nebraska's first two runs. Morris came on with one out to get the Wolverines back in the dugout.
Morris' lone blemish was a solo shot to lead off the third. Over the next five innings pitched, Morris would allow just one hit and three baserunners in total.
After a one-out walk by Morris in the fourth, Hall stepped to the plate and delivered a clutch two-run homer down the left field line to cut the deficit to just one. However, that would be the last hit Utah Valley would get on the afternoon.
The Wolverines threatened in the bottom of the seventh after Angelique Mann led off the inning with a hit by pitch. Mann was able to advance to second on a passed ball, then moved over to third on a groundout to short. Brown stepped in with two outs and sent a line drive to left that was caught in spectacular fashion by Bland.
Utah Valley will return to action on Friday, Feb. 16 at the Fresno State Invitational in Fresno, California. The Wolverines will play five games in three days, starting with a pair against Saint Mary's and host Fresno State on Friday. Only Friday afternoon's game against the Bulldogs will be streamed, but all five games will have live stats available at UVUStats.com.
