OREM, Utah — Britney Moreno and Angelique Mann each had a four-hit day as Utah Valley dropped both games of Friday's doubleheader to the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, 5-3 and 10-6 respectively.
The Wolverines got the tying run in scoring position in game one, but were unable to get the hit they needed. A six-run seventh-inning rally by SUU turned the tide in game two.
GAME ONE
The T-Birds scored in the first inning in both games, with a passed ball plating the lone run in game one.
Utah Valley scored twice to take the lead in the second. After Emma Haygood walked and Mann singled, Megan Gibbs roped a single up the middle to score Victoria Vasquez, who ran for Haygood. A sac fly by Amber Rodriguez — who played her first game in the field since March 28 — plated Mann.
SUU scored three in the fourth to take the lead for good. Utah Valley got a runner in scoring position in five of the seven innings, but only cashed in on two of those situations.
A solo homer in the seventh pushed the T-Bird lead up to three at 5-2.
Peyton Hall singled to lead off the seventh, then advanced to second on a dropped ball by the second baseman as Avery Sapp reached on a fielder's choice. A strange play got the Wolverines one run closer, but a confusing ruling by the umpires resulted in an out. Tatum Hall dunked a ball into left that was trapped on a diving effort by the left fielder. Kina Watts — who ran for Sapp — was initially called safe at second, but after deliberation, the umpires called Watts out. Peyton Hall scored on the play, but the ruling left the Wolverines with just one on and one out.
Mann walked and Mya Higareda hit a two-out single to load the bases, but another tough break went against UVU, as Rodriguez hit a hard line drive up the middle that tipped off the pitcher's glove and was caught by the shortstop to end the game.
GAME TWO
The nightcap was a back-and-forth affair, with the T-Birds pulling out the win with a furious seventh-inning rally. SUU scored first again on an unearned run as a grounder to third kicked away from Peyton Hall and past Moreno, allowing a runner to score from second.
Utah Valley tied it right back up with a run in the home half as Moreno tripled to right then scored on a swinging bunt by Rodriguez.
The Wolverines tacked on two with a two-out rally in the third. With Moreno at second, Peyton Hall and Mann hit back-to-back doubles to almost the same spot in left center to score the two runs.
Both sides scored three in the fifth to make it 6-4. Three walks loaded the bases for SUU, then a bases-clearing double scored all three runs.
Back-to-back singles by Kendyl Purdy and Moreno set up Rodriguez, who reached on a bunt single and advanced all the way to third as the throw sailed down the right field line. Peyton Hall then drove her in with a sac fly to right.
Six of the first seven T-Birds reached to start the seventh as SUU scored six runs to take the lead for good.
Utah Valley and SUU will wrap up the regular season tomorrow afternoon as the Wolverines celebrate Senior Day. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. MDT, with festivities planned both before and after the game.
