May 5, 2008

Box Score

For the first time in school history the Utah Valley University softball team beat the University of Utah, 3-1, as the two teams split a doubleheader at MSTAR Field Monday. UVU jumped to 17-33 on the season, ending a five-game win streak, and Utah moved to 28-23.

Sophomore Alli Bramwell set a new school record for wins in a single season (13) in the contest. Sophomore Cherylyn McGraw hit a three-run homerun in the first game, her fourth of the season, which would prove to be the winning hit. Junior Heidi Stocks hit her 10th homer of the season in the sixth inning of the second game to knot the score at 6-6, but the Wolverines fell 7-6 in eight innings.

"I can't be disappointed at all," UVU head coach Todd Fairbourne said. "We were right there and had an opportunity to win. A play here or a hit there would have won it for us. This team has grown up a lot in the last 10 games."

The Utes put pressure on the Wolverines throughout the first game, but Bramwell kept her cool and pitched out of bases-loaded jams in the first and seventh innings. In total, Utah left nine runners on base in the game.

The three-run third inning began with a single from junior Magan Niemann. Freshman Meghan Woodworth followed with another single, and Bramwell laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. McGraw then came to the plate and smoked a deep ball that cleared the left-field fence easily. Utah would get one run back in the sixth inning, but Utah Valley held them to that and took the first game 3-1.

Utah scored two runs in the top of the first inning in the second game, but UVU matched them in the bottom of the inning. The Wolverines took a 5-2 lead in the second inning thanks to a two-RBI double from McGraw and an RBI single from sophomore Jessica Anderson.

UVU gave up one run in the third and two more in the fifth as the Utes tied the game at 5-5. Utah took a 6-5 lead in the top of the sixth inning, but Stocks' solo shot tied the game, and the contest went to extra innings. The Wolverines gave up one last run in the top of the eighth inning and could not match it in the bottom half. Utah Valley put two runners on base with walks, but could not bring them home.

Utah Valley's season will end Tuesday as the team travels across town to face BYU at Miller Park in Provo. The first pitch is set for 5 p.m.