OGDEN, Utah — Megan Gibbs hit her 12th home run of the season and Payge Armendariz pitched a complete game, allowing no earned runs, as Utah Valley (18-25) trounced the Weber State Wildcats (19-24) 9-1 in six innings.
"I was proud of the way that we played all around today," said head coach Cody Thomson. "We've been struggling at the plate a little bit, and I challenged them to loosen up, swing hard when they get in good counts, and they did it. It really showed today, and it was a whole collective effort."
Gibbs' home run — a grand slam at the heart of a five-run fourth inning — gave her a new personal best for a single season in both home runs (12) and RBIs (40). Gibbs is now just one home run away from tying and two away from breaking the UVU single season home run record.
Armendariz pitched her third-straight complete game in her last three starts. In her last three starts, Armendariz has allowed two or fewer earned runs and struck out 13 batters.
Utah Valley struck first in the top of the first with some station-to-station softball. After a groundout by Ry Binne to start the game, Amber Rodriguez, Peyton Hall, and Halle Morris each singled to load the bases. Armendariz then worked a bases-loaded walk to bring in the lone run in the inning.
Weber State tied the game back up with an unearned run in its half of the first. An error came around to score on a double steal play with runners on the corners.
Rodriguez and Morris restored the Wolverine lead in the third. Rodriguez reached on an infield single, stole second, then was driven home by Morris with a single to right center.
Utah Valley broke the game wide open with a five-run fourth inning. A single by Angelique Mann, an error, and a walk loaded the bases for Morris, who was able to battle for a walk and another RBI. After a pitching change, Gibbs sent the second pitch she saw over the fence in left for a grand slam.
Hall picked up a bases-loaded RBI single in the fifth to extend the lead to 8-1, but the trailing runner was thrown out at the plate trying to score and push the Wolverine lead into run-rule territory.
Rachael Brown picked up the run-rule-clinching base knock in the sixth on a sharp grounder to short that kicked off the defender's glove into center, allowing Gibbs to score from second.
Armendariz made quick work of the Wildcats in the bottom of the sixth, picking up a flyout and a pair of groundouts.
UP NEXT
Utah Valley heads to Cedar City for a three-game series at Southern Utah this weekend. Instead of the normal Friday/Saturday schedule we're accustomed to for WAC play, this series will be played on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. MT, with Sunday's series finale is slated for noon MT. All three games will be shown live on ESPN+.
