STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Payge Armendariz and Avery Sapp combined to hold Tarleton State to two runs and Peyton Hall had a 3-for-3 day with an RBI triple as Utah Valley fell on the wrong end of a pitcher's duel, 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.
The Texans held the Wolverines to just three runs in the series, and made a pair of big plays to gun down potential tying runs at the plate in the late innings. Emma Haygood and Kendyl Purdy each had a pair of hits in the defeat.
Utah Valley jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first after Britney Moreno reached to lead off the game, then was tripled home by Peyton Hall on a ball off the wall that kicked away from all the outfielders.
For the third time in the series, Tarleton got all of its scoring in one inning, this time in the bottom of the second, and much like game one yesterday, the Texans did it without an extra-base hit. Three singles and a walk plated the first run, then a fielder's choice to second brought home the second run. Armendariz battled back and got a groundout to first and a soft liner to short.
A pair of singles chased Armendariz in the fourth, but Sapp was able to come on and pick up right where she left off last night with two quick outs to get out of the jam. Sapp struck out three and allowed just one baserunner via a walk over 2.2 scoreless innings.
Utah Valley pieced together a two-out rally in the fifth with a trio of singles by Tatum Hall, Peyton Hall, and Mya Higareda, but Tatum Hall was gunned down at home by the center fielder.
The Wolverines loaded the bases again in the sixth as Sapp walked and Haygood and Purdy each singled, but Sapp was also thrown out at home as Britney Moreno hit a swinging bunt back to the pitcher with two down.
Utah Valley got the tying run in scoring position in the seventh when Peyton Hall singled and Sapp walked, but Angelique Mann flew out to right to end the game.
The Wolverines will close out the non-conference portion of the schedule on Tuesday evening at home against the Idaho State Bengals. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. MDT, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
