Utah Valley heads to Pocatello, Idaho on Wednesday for its final road game of the season against the Idaho State Bengals. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. MT, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Wednesday's game will be the 53rd all-time meeting between the Wolverines and Bengals, with the series currently tied at 26 wins apiece. Idaho State is the third-most played opponent in UVU's D-I softball history, behind Northern Colorado (55 games) and BYU (54 games). UVU's 26 wins against the Bengals are also the second-most against any one opponent, also behind Northern Colorado (27).
LAST TIME OUT
Utah Valley took two out of three over the weekend against Southern Utah, falling 7-6 in game one before taking the final two games, 4-1 and 4-0 respectively.
Avery Sapp put up two of her best pitching performances as a Wolverine, allowing just one earned run in two complete game wins. Sapp came two outs away from a shutout in game two, but was able to finish off the shutout in game three.
Sapp's efforts earned her this week's WAC Pitcher of the Week award, the first Wolverine to win the WAC weekly award this season and the first pitcher to win it since Devyn Cretz in 2021. Over her last five outings, in 32.1 innings pitched, Sapp has allowed just four earned runs — good for a 0.86 ERA — while striking out 24.
Megan Gibbs put up another solid series at the plate, going 4-for-9 with a home run, a double, three walks, and four RBIs. With her homer on Saturday, Gibbs has now tied the UVU single-season home run record of 13, and is also nine RBIs away from breaking the single-season RBI record of 52.
Amber Rodriguez led the attack at the top of the lineup, going 5-for-11 with a walk, an RBI, a stolen base, and three runs scored. Rodriguez also made a spectacular diving catch deep in left center in game two of the series that took away extra bases and kept a run off the board. Rodriguez enters the week on a five-game hitting streak.
SERIES HISTORY VS IDAHO STATE
The all-time series against the Bengals is currently tied at 26 games apiece. Idaho State won the prior meeting this season, 9-2 in Phoenix back on Feb. 23. The Wolverines last played in Pocatello back in 2019, with Idaho State sweeping a doubleheader.
The two teams split the series last year, with Idaho State winning a neutral-site game in St. George, 8-6, but the Wolverines bounced back with a 7-6 walk-off win in Orem.
UP NEXT
Utah Valley hosts Utah Tech for the Old Hammer Rivalry this weekend at Wolverine Softball Field to wrap up the regular season. Friday's game is scheduled for 10 a.m. MT, with Saturday's doubleheader slated to start at 12 p.m. MT. Senior Day festivities will take place following the conclusion of Saturday's doubleheader.
