OREM, Utah — Megan Gibbs set the UVU single-season home run record and the Utah Valley pitching staff put up a stellar combined performance to secure a doubleheader and series sweep over Utah Tech, defeating the Trailblazers 9-2 and 4-0 on Senior Day at Wolverine Softball Field.
The team honored their six graduating seniors — student manager D'Mia Moore, OF Laynee Betancur, INF Danyé Albritton, RHP Jorja Barrett, OF Libbie Hawker, and RHP/UTL Halle Morris — with a first pitch ceremony prior to game one and a postgame presentation on the field.
All five players took the field at some point during the doubleheader, including Albritton, who is out for the season with a knee injury. Albritton took part in warmups and took the field with her teammates before exiting to a rousing standing ovation and receiving hugs from all her teammates and coaches.
Gibbs blasted two home runs in the opening game to set and extend the program single-season home run record, and now has a WAC-leading 15 home runs on the season. Gibbs also moved her way closer to another milestone, as she is now just four RBIs away from breaking the single-season record of 52.
"Breaking the record is a huge deal, and to hit 15 home runs is really hard to do," said head coach Cody Thomson. "I'm proud of the seniors, and how the team played this weekend. You couldn't ask for a better group of seniors. I can't wait to see what this team can do!"
The Wolverine pitching staff showed some of its best stuff of the season in this series, holding the Trailblazers to just two runs in three games. The last time Utah Valley held a WAC team to that few runs in a three-game series was back in 2019 when the Wolverines held CSU Bakersfield to two runs in a three-game sweep.
Avery Sapp pitched 5.2 innings in game one, allowing two earned runs and striking out six before giving way to Halle Morris, who pitched the final 1.1 without allowing a baserunner.
Jorja Barrett put up three shutout innings as the starter in game two, allowing just one hit and striking out one. Morris pitched the final four innings to get the win, scattering three hits and striking out three.
The series sweep secures Utah Valley's best record in WAC play since 2018, when the Wolverines went 10-4 in conference play. The 15-10 mark is also the second-best win percentage in WAC play since joining the league in 2014, and is the most wins in a single WAC campaign.
GAME ONE
Utah Valley took the lead in the first inning and never looked back. Gibbs narrowly missed what would've been her record-setting home run, but had to settle for a long single off the wall that scored Morris.
Britney Moreno doubled the lead in the second with an RBI double to score Mya Higareda.
Gibbs made it a 4-0 game in the third with a majestic two-run shot to left to score Betancur and set the single-season home run record. Angelique Mann then singled, stole second, and was driven in on a single by Higareda.
Sapp had one of the strangest and most dominant innings you'll see in college softball this season, picking up four strikeouts in the top of the fourth. After the first batter reached on a swing and a miss on a ball in the dirt, Sapp struck out the next three batters in quick succession.
Gibbs hit her second homer of the day in the fifth, a solo shot on a low line drive to left.
Utah Tech put up a pair of runs in the sixth to chase Sapp, but Morris was able to come in and slam the door. Morris struck out the lone batter she faced in the sixth, then sent the Blazers down in order in the seventh.
Morris hit her fourth home run of the year in the bottom of the sixth to make it 9-2. Morris battled to force a full count, then blasted the eighth pitch of the at-bat over the wall in left.
GAME TWO
The second game was a pitcher's duel through the first 2.5 innings, as both Barrett and UT starter Attlyn Johnston gave up just one hit apiece.
Utah Valley loaded the bases courtesy of walks by Rachael Brown and Hawker and a single by Betancur. Moreno then tripled off the wall in left-center to clear the bases, and later came in to score on a wild pitch.
Morris came in to pitch in the fourth with runners on second and third and nobody out and was able to strand them there. Morris got a strikeout and a flyout to right before snagging a sharp comebacker for the last out of the inning.
After coming on in the fourth, Morris retired nine of the next 10 batters she faced. Two batters reached in the seventh to put runners at the corners, but Morris was able to get out of the situation by spearing a comebacker and turning a game-ending double play.
UP NEXT
Utah Valley will head to Seattle for the WAC Tournament, hosted by Seattle U, as the third seed with a bye into the double elimination portion of the bracket. The Wolverines will face the winner of UT Arlington and Tarleton State at 5 p.m. MT on ESPN+. Follow @UVUSoftball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for updates regarding game times and opponents.
