ABILENE, Texas — Halle Morris threw her second complete game of the weekend, striking out six and allowing just one ER to lead Utah Valley (12-17, 6-3 WAC) to a 5-2 win over the Abilene Christian Wildcats (12-20, 4-7 WAC) on Saturday afternoon.
The win ties the best start to WAC play through nine games since UVU joined the league in 2014. The Wolverines also started 6-3 in 2018.
"Halle being able to go 14 innings for us this weekend was huge," said head coach Cody Thomson. "Gibbs had a great day today with some big hits and Amber getting three hits out of the lead-off spot was a huge deal."
Amber Rodriguez and Megan Gibbs each went 3-for-3 with a trio of singles. Rodriguez drove in two and scored one, while Gibbs drove in one and also drew a walk. Britney Moreno went 1-for-3 with a triple and a run scored.
Morris again tied a career high with six strikeouts. Morris has reached that mark three times this season — yesterday against ACU and last weekend against GCU — and originally set the mark last season at Utah against Washington.
Moreno got the Wolverines on the board in the top of the third after hitting a lead-off triple down the left field line. Rodriguez then brought her home with a sacrifice fly to right.
ACU leveled the scoring in the bottom of the inning after a pair of errors turned into a run.
Utah Valley put together a two-out, two-run rally in the fifth to take the lead for good. Rodriguez and Ry Binne singled, then Morris roped a double over the center fielder's head to bring in Rodriguez. Gibbs then dunked a single into center to drive home Binne.
A wild play in the sixth brought home two more Wolverine runs. With runners on second and third, Rodriguez hit a towering chopper into no-man's land between the circle and third. Angelique Mann beat the throw home, and Rodriguez took second while the Wildcats were arguing with the home plate umpire. Victoria Vasquez then swiped home on the throw to second.
ACU plated a run in its half of the sixth, but that was all the scoring the Wildcats would get the remainder of the game.
UP NEXT
Utah Valley has a busy week ahead against tough competition. The Wolverines return home for a midweek doubleheader on Tuesday against the Seattle U Redhawks. First pitch has been moved up to 1 p.m. to account for potential inclement weather. UVU will then host California Baptist at the weekend.
