Wolverines unable to answer SDSU, defeated by the Aztecs 6-1

The Utah Valley University women’s softball team (3-6) was routed 6-1 by the San Diego State University Aztecs (8-2) on Saturday evening in their fourth game at the Campbell/Cartier Classic Saturday in San Diego, California.

The Aztecs began the game by scoring five total unanswered runs through the first five innings. Rylee Thorpe put the Wolverines on the board in the fifth inning with a home run to cut the deficit down to 5-1. However, the Aztecs would score one more run in the top of the seventh and hold off the Wolverines to ultimately win 6-1.

The Wolverines batted at a .160 hitting percentage, getting four base hits and scoring off Thorpe’s home run. UVU also had four batters that were walked.

However, strikeouts haunted the Wolverines as 10 batters struck out and seven runners were left on base for UVU.

Megan Gibbs led the way for the Wolverines on offense, going 2-3 at the plate, including one base hit, and she also recorded a team-high in putouts on defense with four. Thorpe went 1-1 from the plate with a home run and was walked twice; she had two putouts and a team-high of two assists on defense a-s well. Britney Moreno also had a hit for the Wolverines. 

Katie Zuniga (1-4) started the game for UVU, pitching 4.1 innings and 64 pitches. Zuniga gave up seven hits and had four earned runs while having seven flyouts and six groundouts. 

Brooke Saili came in relief for Zuniga, pitching the remaining 2.2 innings through 71 pitches. Saili gave up three hits, two earned runs, and three walks but had two strikeouts, five flyouts, and one groundout against the 10 batters she faced.

The Aztecs batted at a .333 hitting percentage, hitting the ball 10 times, with all six of their runs coming from a hit. The Aztecs, despite scoring six runs, also had seven runners stranded on base but only struck out twice.

SDSU wasted no time to start the top of the first inning, with Mac Barbara hitting an RBI double to score Bella Espinoza and give the Aztecs an early 1-0 lead.

The Wolverines tried to answer in the bottom frame with Moreno, Thorpe, and Jaeden Barajas loading up the bases with two outs. However, Aztec pitcher Sarah Lehman was able to escape the jam by striking out Gibbs.

After a scoreless second inning, the Aztecs put their foot back on the gas in the top of the third inning. With two runners in scoring position and no outs, Barbara was able to reach base on a fielder’s choice that got Taylor Okada out but once again scored Espinoza to give SDSU a 2-0 advantage.

However, the bleeding wasn’t done as Aztec Jillian Celis followed with a home run that scored both herself and Barara to extend the lead to 4-0.

SDSU threatened once again in the top of the fifth inning, loading up the bases with two outs. Macey Keester then singled to right field which scored Barbara once again to make the score 5-0.

The Wolverines finally ended their scoring drought in the bottom of the sixth inning as leadoff hitter Thorpe crushed a full-count home run out to left field. A few at-bats later, following a double by Gibbs, Barajas and Gibbs were in scoring position; however, the Aztecs would once again escape trouble by getting two consecutive strikeouts to finish the inning.

The Aztecs responded in the top of the seventh inning, getting two runners in scoring position with only one out. Alex Bunton followed with a sacrifice line drive to right field that scored Elianna Reyes, giving the Aztecs a 6-1 edge over the Wolverines.

The Wolverines weren’t able to answer in the bottom of the seventh and the game ended with a final score of 6-1. 

The Wolverines have now lost two-straight games following their first-ever matchup against the Aztecs.

The Wolverines will look to bounce back against Loyola Marymount University Lions (2-7), who they already defeated 6-2 on Saturday, in their finale at the Campbell/Cartier Classic.
The game can be followed live on statbroadcast.com.

Gavin Lee

Writer

Sophomore at UVU. Writer for the UVU review, statistician for UVU ESPN+, and play-by-play commentator for UVU Men’s Lacrosse.