TEMPE, Ariz. — Utah Valley dropped both its games on Saturday at the ASU/GCU Classic, falling 4-3 to the Texas State Bobcats (12-4) before losing 9-4 to the co-host Arizona State Sun Devils (10-5).
The Wolverines (5-8) put together a pair of late-inning comebacks, but ultimately fell just short in both. Utah Valley had the bases loaded in the seventh against TSU, but couldn't push across the tying run.
In the late game, after falling behind 6-0, Utah Valley plated four-straight runs to make it 6-4, but three runs in the bottom of the sixth allowed the Sun Devils to pull away.
Early inning struggles proved to be insurmountable for the Wolverines. TSU and ASU put up 10 of their 13 combined runs in the first two frames before the Utah Valley pitching settled into a groove.
Halle Morris had a strong day in the circle in a pair of relief outings. Morris tossed five scoreless innings against the Bobcats before turning in 4.1 innings against ASU where she allowed just one earned run. Rachael Brown had a big game in the night cap, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, and four RBIs.
GAME ONE
Texas State jumped out to an early 4-0 lead with three in the first and one in the second. Halle Morris came on with the bases loaded and nobody out and limited the damage to one. UVU got the first out at home on a grounder to short, but an error brought home the lone run. Morris was able to get out of the jam with a lineout to second, as Britney Moreno doubled off the runner at second.
Morris showed some of her best stuff of the season, striking out a season-high five batters in five innings pitched without allowing a run. She was just one punchout short of equalling a career high that came last season with Utah against Washington.
Utah Valley got a run back in the third after Ry Binne was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Binne was replaced by pinch runner Danyé Albritton and wouldn't return. Albritton came around to score on a wild pitch.
Gibbs hit her second home run of the weekend in the sixth to cut the deficit to two. Gibbs now sits in sole possession of sixth place on the UVU career home runs list with 22.
The Wolverines loaded the bases in the seventh, but would only get one of the two runs they needed to extend the game. Peyton Hall hit a leadoff, pinch-hit single to start the rally, then Britney Moreno reached on a four-pitch walk. Angelique Mann extended the game by reaching on a throwing error with two outs. Gibbs drew a bases loaded walk to bring in a run, but Morris would strike out to end the game.
GAME TWO
After ASU put up two in the first and four in the second, UVU responded in a big way with a three-run home run by Rachael Brown in the fourth, her second of the weekend and the season.
Morris led off the sixth with a double down the left field line. Brown brought her home two batters later with a double up the game in left-center to cut the deficit to just two.
ASU responded in a big way with three runs in their half of the sixth. The Sun Devils would hold the line in the seventh to clinch the game.
UP NEXT
Utah Valley closes out the weekend with an early 9 a.m. MT game tomorrow against Big East foe Seton Hall. The game will not be streamed, but live stats are available at UVUStats.com.
