LAS VEGAS — Lily Riley tossed a complete game with three strikeouts, Megan Sterzer went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Britney Moreno extended her reached base streak to 12 games as Utah Valley rolled to its third-straight win, topping the UNLV Rebels 8-1 on Friday.
The Wolverines set a program record of scoring in 11-straight innings, stretching back to last night's victory over Valpo, to take an early lead and never look back as Utah Valley continued its best offensive start to a season in program history. Through 13 games, the Wolverines have scored 95 runs, surpassing the previous best of 82 by the 2019 squad.
"I love the way that we're playing right now," said head coach Cody Thomson. "We have so many kids having great at-bats. I'm very proud of where this Utah Valley softball team is, and looking forward to keeping it going."
Sterzer has been on a tear since getting to Vegas. In three games thus far at the Rebel Classic, the freshman from Taylorsville, Utah, has gone 5-for-7 with a home run, seven RBIs, five runs scored, and three walks drawn.
Moreno, who has reached base in all but one game so far this season and has a hit in all but two, upped her already impressive batting average and on-base percentage to .524 and .615 respectively. The senior from La Habra, Calif., also swiped another stolen base in Saturday's nightcap, moving within one of her total from all of last season.
Riley kept the Rebels off-balance all afternoon, scattering eight hits — only two of which went for extra bases — over a complete game while allowing just the one run.
Utah Valley picked up right where it left off this morning against Idaho State with a run in the top of the first on a tricky ball hit by Peyton Hall. With runners on second and third, Hall hit a ball off the end of the bat that the second baseman was unable to field with a diving effort, but it was ruled an error.
Angelique Mann added on two more for the Wolverines in the second on a hit that narrowly stayed in the ballpark. Mann had to settle for a double to straightaway center that allowed Moreno and Sterzer to score easily. Along with Moreno and Emma Haygood, Mann is one of three Wolverines who are hitting .400 or better on the young season.
The Wolverines kept the offensive pressure on in the third, bringing home three more runs. Tatum Hall dunked a single just in front of the center fielder to drive in her sister. Moreno then plated two with a single to left that scored Sterzer and Ry Binne and made it 6-0.
The Rebels got their lone run of the night after a leadoff double came around to score in the home half of the third.
Utah Valley scored for the 11th inning in a row in the fourth, tacking on two runs to make it 8-1. Bailey Marvin plated one on a ground out, then Sterzer slashed a single to right center to score the other run of the frame.
The Wolverines got a runner in scored position in two of the last three frames, but were unable to capitalize on it.
Riley was able to work out of a small jam in the seventh to close out the game, benefitting from a lineout double play to end it.
Utah Valley will close out its weekend at the Rebel Classic tomorrow with back-to-back games against Valparaiso and Merrimack beginning at 10:30 a.m. MT. Both games will be streamed at
youtube.com/@unlvathletics, with live stats available at
GoUVU.com/stats.