PUERTO VALLARTA — No. 1 Oklahoma scored early and often to take a 13-0 victory over the Utah Valley Wolverines Thursday morning at Nancy Almaraz Stadium in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. Later in the afternoon, Iowa State rallied for a 12-1 victory over the Wolverines in six innings.
Free passes plagued the Wolverines on Thursday. Utah Valley pitchers issued 16 walks — 8 in each game.
GAME ONE
Payge Armendariz tossed a scoreless 4th inning in relief, but the three-time defending champs were able to use a trio of home runs — including a grand slam in the bottom of the first — to pull away.
Laynee Betancur went 1-for-1 in her first game action since the 2022 WAC Tournament. Britney Moreno, Halle Morris, and Megan Gibbs each went 1-for-2 with a single.
Morris started in the circle for the Wolverines and was able to retire the first two batters on a lineout and a punchout, but a trio of walks set up Kasidi Pickering, who hit a grand slam to left center.
Morris gave way to Avery Sapp and Cam Davis, who combined to pitch two innings in their collegiate debuts.
The Wolverines loaded the bases in the top of the 4th, but were unable to capitalize. Moreno and Morris led off the inning with a pair of singles. Gibbs then sent a grounder through the right side, but Moreno had to hold at third. The Sooners were then able to retire the next two batters.
Armendariz struck out one in her inning pitched. OU was then able to retire the side in order to secure the run-rule victory in the top of the fifth.
GAME TWO
The Cyclones loaded the bases in the top of the first off of Morris in game two, and were able to push across a run off of a groundout. Morris was able to get her first of two strikeouts to get out of the jam.
ISU retired the first five Wolverines in order before Amber Rodriguez roped her first collegiate hit into left field for a single. The Cyclones were then able to retire the next batter.
Iowa State rallied for a trio of runs in the third, courtesy of a two-run homer and a double.
The first four Wolverines reached base safely in the bottom of the third to get Utah Valley its first run of the young season. Mya Higareda roped a single into right-center, then Laynee Betancur drew a walk. Ry Binne legged out a bunt single to load the bases for Moreno, who drew a walk to bring in a run.
After the Moreno walk, the Cyclones brought in Saya Swain, who was able to retire the next three Wolverines in order.
ISU responded with a pair of runs in the fourth to make it 6-1, then broke it open with six more runs in the top of the sixth to secure the run-rule victory.
The Wolverines will have the late game on Friday, as Utah Valley faces off with PAC-12 foe No. 10 Washington at 5 p.m. MT. All games at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge can be streamed live on FloSoftball, with live stats available at UVUStats.com.
