OREM, Utah — Utah Valley dropped its midweek non-conference matchup on Tuesday, falling to the Boise State Broncos (20-10) 10-4.
The Wolverines (9-14, 3-0 WAC) battled back from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game in the fourth, but the Broncos responded with six unanswered runs — including five in the seventh — to pull away from Utah Valley.
Peyton Hall saw her 11-game hit streak snapped, as she went 0-for-3 with a walk. Earlier today, Hall was named the D1Softball National Freshman of the Week for her stellar weekend against the Tarleton State Texans.
Despite putting up four runs in one inning, the Wolverines did not record a single extra-base hit the whole afternoon. Saige Nielsen and Taylor Wooten each went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Amber Rodriguez posted a 1-for-4 day with an RBI. Halle Morris delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in her one plate appearance.
Jorja Barrett got the start in the circle and went two-plus innings, allowing three runs. Payge Armendariz relieved her and went 4.1 innings with five earned runs allowed — four of which came in the seventh. Cam Davis then came on and got the final two outs.
Wolverine pitchers largely avoided the crooked number, as the Broncos only put up more than one run in one of the first six innings, which helped keep Utah Valley in the ballgame.
After surrendering one in the first, two in the second, and one in the fourth, the Wolverines tied the game with some station-to-station softball. Hall led off the inning with a walk, then five of the next six Utah Valley hitters reached via a single. The Wolverines looked to have taken the lead with a sacrifice fly by Angelique Mann, but Taylor Wooten was thrown out trying to advance to third before the runner could cross home plate.
The Broncos quickly regained the lead with a run in the top of the fifth, but the Wolverines stayed within striking distance. Utah Valley had a chance to tie the game in the sixth, but BSU brought in ace Taylor Caudill and sshe stranded a runner on third after coming in with one out. Boise State went on to put up five runs in the seventh to secure the win.
Utah Valley returns to WAC play this weekend on the road at Grand Canyon, who is receiving votes in the NFCA Coaches Poll. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday starting at 5:30 p.m. MT, then reconvene on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.
