OREM, Utah — Six Wolverines had multi-hit games, led by Britney Moreno and Angelique Mann at the top of the lineup, as Utah Valley run-ruled in-state rival Weber State in walk-off fashion, 9-1 on Tuesday afternoon in the home opener.
The Wolverines used three different three-run innings, including back-to-back crooked numbers in the fourth and fifth to pull away.
Moreno and Mann provided the one-two punch for UVU, as Moreno went 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs, and two runs scored. With her first run scored, Moreno became the sixth player in program history to reach 100 for their career, and also matched the career record for triples with her 11th in the fourth inning.
Mann — who herself is closing in on 100 career runs scored — went 2-for-2 with a double, three RBIs, two walks, and a run. Mann's double in the bottom of the fifth drove in the winning runs for the Wolverines.
"It's exciting to get home finally. I'm really impressed with our team, taking a run-rule [win] in our first game at home shows just how good we are," said head coach Cody Thomson. "It's done with multiple players, the top of our lineup is really impressive."
Payge Armendariz got the start for Utah Valley and kept the Wildcat hitters off-balance all afternoon, allowing just the one run and scattering four hits over four innings of work to get the win.
The Wolverines sent nine batters to the plate as part of a three-run second inning. Amber Rodriguez reached on an infield single into the hole at short to set up Tatum Hall, who smoked a triple over the center fielder's head to make it 1-0. Megan Sterzer picked up her first of two extra-base hits with a double to drive Hall in two batters later. Moreno picked up the last knock of the inning, dunking a single into left that allowed Sterzer to narrowly beat the throw home.
Weber State got its lone run of the game in the fourth after a one-out double by Sadie Kirk came around to score on a two-out single by Paige Witte.
Utah Valley got that run back and then some in the home half of the inning as the first three batters of the inning reached base. Ry Binne extended her hitting streak to a team-best 11 games with a bunt single, then came around to score on a triple by Moreno to right. Mann then smoked a double over the left fielder's head to make it 5-1. Bailey Marvin fought out of an 0-2 hole to send a single the other way that allowed Mann to score.
The Wolverines got four-straight hits to start the bottom of the fifth and secure the three runs needed for the run-rule win. Sterzer hit a solo homer to right center, then singles by Binne and Moreno set up Mann, who put a perfectly-placed double up the gap in left center to drive in the winning run.
Utah Valley will kick off WAC play with a three-game set at home against the Utah Tech Trailblazers on Friday and Saturday. The Old Hammer rivals will play a single game on Friday at 4 p.m. MT, then wrap up the series on Saturday with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon. All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+, with live stats available at GoUVU.com/stats.
