EL PASO, Texas — A back-and-forth Sunday matinee contest went the way of the UTEP Miners, as Utah Valley fell 10-5 in the final game of the opening weekend.
After the Wolverines took a 5-2 lead in the fourth, the Miners rattled off eight unanswered runs to take the lead and earn a split of the two games between the two teams this weekend.
Britney Moreno hit safely for the fourth consecutive game and drove in two while also swiping her fifth stolen base of the season. Entering Sunday's game, Moreno ranked in the top 10 nationally in stolen bases on the young season.
Emma Haygood reached base in all four plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with two walks and two RBIs.
The Wolverines got on the board in the top of the first after three straight walks to start the game. Haygood capitalized on those free passes, sneaking a two-run single through the right side.
The Miners matched UVU's two-spot in the bottom of the second after a strange play extended the UTEP rally. With two on and one out, Moreno looked to have ended the inning by catching a popup and tagging the second base runner, with whom she had collided and knocked to the ground in the process of making the catch. The umpires instead called the second base runner out for obstruction, placed the batter at first, and advanced the runner from first to second, essentially turning the pop-fly double play into a fielder's choice.
The Miners took advantage of that second life, drawing a walk to load the bases before tying the game on a two-run single of their own.
Utah Valley rallied for three in the top of the fourth to take a 5-2 lead. The Wolverines loaded the bases via a Peyton Hall double, Tatum Hall walk, and a Mya Higareda HBP. This set the table for Moreno, who roped a double to left center to drive in the Halls. Amber Rodriguez plated the third run on a sac fly to left.
The Miners answered right back with five runs of their own in their half of the frame, then tacked on two more in the fifth and one in the sixth. Utah Valley got two on with no out on back-to-back singles by Haygood and Megan Sterzer in the seventh, but couldn't capitalize.
The Wolverines will now head to Tucson, Ariz., next weekend for the Bear Down Fiesta hosted by the Arizona Wildcats. Utah Valley will open the tournament on Friday, Feb. 13 with two games against the Drake Bulldogs and the host Wildcats. All games this coming weekend will be streamed, with the two games against Arizona airing on ESPN+ and all other contests being shown on FloCollege. Live stats will be available at GoUVU.com/stats.
