ST. GEORGE, Utah — Utah Valley used two big innings to cruise past in-state rival Utah State, 10-1 in five to open the Beehive Classic on Friday afternoon in St. George.
The Wolverines rallied for three in the first and six in the fourth to continue the early-season big-inning trend, making it 17 innings where Utah Valley has scored three or more runs in 16 games played thus far.
Lily Riley continued her masterful start to the season to earn her seventh victory, striking out four and allowing one ER over five.
Utah Valley used a balanced attack to control the game from the jump as every player in the starting lineup reached base at least once and eight of the nine recorded a hit. Britney Moreno was the lone Wolverine who didn't get a hit, ending her eight-game hitting streak, but managing to extend her reached-base streak to 15 with a walk during the six-run fourth.
Angelique Mann went 2-for-3 with her first home run of the season and two RBIs, while Tatum Hall also went yard with 1-for-2 day and two RBIs. Amber Rodriguez and Megan Sterzer each went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Sterzer also scored two.
After shutting down a two-out Aggie rally, Utah Valley rode that momentum into a three-run bottom of the first. Mann hit a homer into the palm trees in left, then Sterzer hit an RBI double to center and Rodriguez poked an RBI single just in front of the diving right fielder.
Riley sent down eight Aggies in a row from the end of the first to the first out in the fourth. Utah Valley tacked on a run in the third with a double by Bailey Marvin and another RBI single from Rodriguez.
Utah State got its lone run in the fourth on a pair of doubles, but the Wolverines were able to respond in a big way with a six-run home half to put the game on ice.
Hall led off the fourth with a homer that just barely cleared the fence inside the foul pole, and was the first of five straight UVU hitters to reach to start the inning. Emma Haygood worked a bases-loaded walk to score the second run to make it 6-1.
The Aggies cut down one run at the plate on a sharp grounder by Marvin, but an errant throw down the right field line by the catcher allowed Mann to score from second and Haygood to reach third. Sterzer roped a single to center to score Haygood, then Rodriguez reached on a fielding error by the first baseman to load the bases again.
Mya Higareda snuck a single under the shortstop's glove to drive in another to make it 9-1. Hall reached on a fielder's choice that brought in Sterzer for the last run of the frame.
Riley shut the door in the fifth, allowing one hit but stranding the runner at first.
UP NEXT
Utah Valley will be back in action later tonight against another in-state rival in Weber State. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MT, with the game airing on WAC International and live stats available at GoUVU.com/stats.
