LAS VEGAS — A six-run first inning, fueled by a grand slam from Megan Sterzer, propelled Utah Valley to a 9-7 win over the Valparaiso Beacons on Thursday afternoon in Las Vegas.
Sterzer's grand slam — the first home run over her collegiate career — capped a six-run rally that gave the Wolverines the buffer they needed as Utah Valley held on down the home stretch.
After blanking the Beacons in the top of the first, the first five Wolverines reached to start the bottom of the frame. Britney Moreno tripled to right and was immediately singled home by Amber Rodriguez.
A walk to Emma Haygood and a single by Bailey Marvin loaded the bases for Angelique Mann, who dunked a single just in front of the left fielder. Valpo was able to send down the next two Wolverines, but were unable to retire the next as Sterzer launched a grand slam to deep left field to make it 6-0.
Three straight two-out singles plated the next Wolverine run in the bottom of the second to make it 7-0. Mann slapped a single to right center to bring Haygood in from second.
Another two-out rally in the top of the third trimmed the lead down to five at 7-2. Kaia Garnica picked up a two-run bases-loaded single for the Beacons.
Utah Valley pushed the lead back up to six in the bottom of the third with an RBI single from Moreno that scored Tatum Hall.
Valpo made a game of it late, rallying for two in the fifth and three in the seventh to get within two. The Wolverines got a key insurance run in the sixth when Peyton Hall doubled to center and scored Kendyl Purdy.
The Beacons got the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but starter Lily Riley was able to reenter and close out the game with a soft grounder to first.
Utah Valley will continue action at the Rebel Classic on Friday with two games. The Wolverines will face regional rival Idaho State first at 10:30 a.m. MT, then take on the host UNLV Rebels later in the afternoon at 4. Both games will be streamed on YouTube at youtube.com/@UNLVAthletics, with live stats available at GoUVU.com/stats.
