STOCKTON, Calif. — Lily Riley tossed a complete game and Tatum Hall and Emma Haygood each pitched in three hits and two RBIs to lead Utah Valley to a 5-3 win over the Pacific Tigers in a 10-inning marathon on Sunday in Stockton.
Riley's 10-inning complete game is the longest outing in program history, surpassing Heidi Stocks' previous record of 9.2 IP set against New Mexico in 2006. The sophomore from Oregon City, Ore. struck out seven, including the final batter of the game, to earn her WAC-leading ninth victory of the season, a mark that ranks among the top 10 in the nation. Riley also leads the WAC in ERA at 2.20.
For Hall and Haygood, it was their first three-hit games of the season. Hall had the big blast of the game, a go-ahead two-run homer to center field in the fourth to erase an early deficit. Haygood's second RBI gave the Wolverines a crucial insurance run in the 10th.
Riley held the Tigers without a baserunner through the first 2.2 IP, but a two-out rally in the third netted Pacific two runs via a double and a pair of singles.
Utah Valley responded right back with three runs in the top of the fourth. Amber Rodriguez led off the inning with a walk, then was bunted into scoring position by Mya Higareda. Haygood roped a single to center to drive in Rodriguez and cut the deficit to one. Hall then launched the first pitch she saw over the fence in center to make it 3-2.
The score would remain 3-2 until the bottom of the seventh when the Tigers were able to dunk a double into no-man's land behind second base as Angelique Mann was unable to make the diving catch.
After a scoreless eighth, the international tiebreaker runner was placed at second to start the ninth. Both sides got that runner to third with less than two outs, but neither team could get the ball in play to manufacture the run.
Utah Valley finally broke through in the 10th when Rodriguez got a sac fly to deep center to drive in Mann, who was the placed runner at second. Higareda singled to reignite the rally, then Haygood hit a sky-high fly ball to center that the fielder lost in the sun, allowing Higareda to score from first.
Riley finished off the complete game with a three up, three down bottom of the 10th, striking out Pacific's Zaedi Tagalog to end the game.
Utah Valley will stay in Northern California for two more games, beginning Monday afternoon against the UC Davis Aggies. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. MT, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
