SEATTLE — Angelique Mann drove in four, Peyton Hall picked up a pair of RBIs and runs scored, and Britney Moreno went 3-for-5 to lead Utah Valley to an 11-6 win over the Seattle U Redhawks, securing the team's first WAC road sweep since 2018.
The sweep is the Wolverines' first in a three-game road series against any opponent since sweeping the Montana Grizzlies back in 2021. This weekend's wins also secure Utah Valley's place in the WAC Tournament.
The Wolverines took advantage of just about every free pass and extra opportunity the Redhawks gave them, drawing eight walks to go with Seattle's four errors. Utah Valley battled back from an early 3-0 deficit with seven runs in the fourth and four in the fifth to take the lead for good.
"Brit really stepped up for us this weekend out of the leadoff spot," said head coach Cody Thomson. "Payge also stepped up big for us this weekend in the circle, especially after not throwing much recently."
Payge Armendariz righted the ship for the Wolverines after the Redhawks scored three in the first three innings to chase Avery Sapp. Armendariz allowed two runs on one hit in four IP to get the win, her second of the series.
After two quick outs in the top of the fourth, the next 10 Wolverines reached, aided in part by three Seattle U errors. Megan Gibbs got Utah Valley on the board with an RBI single to left, then two more Wolverines came around to score on a throwing error with the bases loaded by the shortstop.
On the next batter, Peyton Hall tied the game with a two-run single just inside the bag at third. Emma Haygood singled and Sapp walked to load the bases for Mann, who took a hit by pitch off the knee to push across another run and make it 6-3. Another error by the shortstop — this time a bobble on a grounder by Rachael Brown — allowed the seventh and final run of the inning to come across.
A rare error by Moreno allowed the Redhawks to get a run back in the bottom of the inning. Taylor Fitch reached on the bobble, then was doubled home by the next batter to make it 7-4.
Another two-out rally produced four more Wolverine runs, this time with a total of five free passes and just one hit. Gibbs reached on a hit by pitch to lead off the inning, and after a pair of fielder's choices, three-straight walks pushed across the first run. Mann then cleared the bases with a double to center.
Armendariz closed out the game with a scoreless sixth and seventh without allowing a hit.
Utah Valley will now return home for the final three games of the regular season this upcoming weekend. The Wolverines will host in-state rival Southern Utah for a three-game set, beginning with a doubleheader Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. MDT. The two teams will then close out the regular season on Saturday with the Senior Day game, scheduled to start at 1 p.m. MDT.
