"We didn't show up today and the weather got the better of us," said head coach Dan Powers. "Too many physical and mental errors were committed for us to win today."
The inclement weather and seven errors was an unfavorable combination for the Redhawks. In the early game, SU took off on an early 2-0 lead behind Theresa Clark's (Lakewood, Colo.) two run home run; however Utah Valley evened the score in the bottom of the second. The Wolverines doubled their lead the following inning to take a 4-2 lead.
In the top of the fifth, SU tied the score with two runs scored off their three-hit inning. Megan MacIsaac (Santa Barbara, Calif.) singled through the right side to bring home Clark. With the bases loaded, Kate Zender's (Enumclaw, Wash.) sacrifice fly to center field scored Jessica Ulrich (Lewiston, Idaho) to close out the inning. Ulrich was 2-for-3 in the game with two runs.
The score was not tied at 4-4 for long, as the Wolverines took control of the score with a lone run scored in the bottom half of the inning. The following inning UVU added two additional runs to take a 7-4 lead.
In a last ditch effort, Seattle U attempted a come-from-behind run in the top of the seventh. Ulrich led off the inning with a single up the middle and was advanced on Sandra Hernandez's (Redlands, Calif.) single to left center. Rose Harrington (Missoula, Mont.) then came in and pitch ran for Hernandez. With two runners on and no outs, MacIsaac came to the plate and singled up the middle to score Ulrich. Zender followed with her second sacrifice fly to score Harrington, but SU was unable to continue the offensive momentum and followed Zender's at bat with their final out of the game.
The Redhawks could not bounce back from their early game loss, despite taking a first inning 3-0 lead. Antich led off the inning with a single to shortstop and was advanced on a UVU passed ball. Katie Petersen (Mission Viejo, Calif.) reached on a fielding error to send Antich to third. The following batter, Ulrich was walked to load the bases. With one out, Hernandez doubled down the right field line to score Antich and Petersen. MacIsaac then came to the plate and singled up the middle to score Ulrich, and SU's third and final run of the inning.
In the bottom half of the inning, Utah Valley score a lone run and took control of the lead with four runs in the second inning. Two innings later they added an additional run to take a 6-3 lead.
In the top of the fifth, the Redhawks got back onto the board. Antich once again led off the inning, this time with a single up the middle and again was advanced to second on a passed ball. Petersen followed and singled up the middle to score Antich. Seattle U could not garner much more offensive rhythm to produce anymore runs in the inning.
The game was called in the bottom of the fifth, as the Wolverines tallied seven hits and scored six runs to conclude the game with a 12-4 five inning victory. In the game, SU was outhit 13 to five.
The Redhawks will look to even the series on Saturday, Apr. 24, with a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m. PT; however due to weather conditions game time may be adjusted.