FRESNO, Calif. — The Utah Valley bats broke out for a six-run second inning to help lead the Wolverines to a 9-7 win over the Saint Mary's Gaels on Saturday afternoon, earning a split on the day after falling to Oregon State 10-3 in the early game.
Taylor Wooten went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI in her first game in the field after returning from injury. Ry Binne reached base in all five plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with two walks, an RBI, and a run scored.
Halle Morris went 3-for-4 with a run scored while also earning the win in the circle. Britney Moreno went 2-for-4 with two RBIs out of the nine-spot in the order.
GAME ONE
The Wolverine defense struggled against Oregon State, picking up eight errors. As a result, only three of the Beavers' 10 runs were earned.
After both sides traded zeros in through the first two innings, OSU broke through with two runs in the third and three in the fourth. Utah Valley got one back in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of an RBI groundout by Amber Rodriguez, but the Beavers pulled away with a four-spot in the sixth.
UVU plated two in the sixth when Megan Gibbs brought in Angelique Mann and Britney Moreno drove home Peyton Hall, but it would be too little too late.
GAME TWO
After the Gaels took a first-inning lead for the second time in as many days, Utah Valley broke out for six runs in the top of the second. SMC retired the leadoff batter, but the next six Wolverines would get a hit to keep the line moving. Halle Morris and Mya Higareda started the rally with back-to-back singles, then Gibbs drove home Morris with an RBI double to center.
Wooten stepped to the plate in her first at-bat of the season and roped a single to right to bring in Higareda. Moreno then followed it up with an RBI single of her own to the opposite field. Hall plated Wooten with a sacrifice fly, then Rodriguez capped the rally with a two-RBI triple to right-center.
Moreno got her second RBI in as many plate appearances in the third after singles by Morris and Wooten set the table.
Binne plated a pair of runs in the fifth to make it 9-2 Wolverines. Gibbs reached on an error and Wooten singled to kick off the rally, then Binne was able to bring them both home with a single to left.
The Wolverines withstood a furious rally from the Gaels over the next three innings. Saint Mary's plated five runs over the final three frames, including Sam Buckley's second home run off of Morris this weekend, but Utah Valley was able to hold on for the victory.
UP NEXT
UVU will look to earn a split against Oregon State when the Wolverines and Beavers face off tomorrow morning. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. MT, and live stats will be available at UVUStats.com.
