Two grand slams and four home runs on the day powered Utah Valley University to a doubleheader sweep over the Maine Black Bears on UVU's 2017 home opener at Wolverine Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Behind a season-high 17 hits and three round trippers, the Wolverines (6-9) took game one by a score of 14-3 before closing the day with a 7-3 victory over Maine (2-11) in game two.
"We've been hitting the ball really well as of late and today was no exception. We truly trust what coach Hubbard has been teaching us in practice and that's what we went out and did," said junior first baseman Taleigh Williams. "Offense is what wins games and it played out for us here today."
Freshman infielder Lyndsay Steverson continued her hot stretch at the plate by belting out her third two-home run game in her last five contests in the opener against the Black Bears. The freshman slugger has been locked in at the plate, as she has now driven out seven home runs during the stretch. Senior infielder Brittney Vansway — the reigning WAC Hitter of the Week — and fellow freshman catcher Basia Query continued their strong hitting as well by each smacking out a grand slam apiece on the day to give the Wolverines 15 home runs in their last six ballgames.
Vansway finished the doubleheader going 3-for-5 with two walks, a grand slam, six RBIs and four runs scored, while Query went 4-for-7 with a grand slam of her own, five RBIs and three runs scored and Steverson went 3-for-7 with two homers, three runs scored and four runs batted in.
Game one
In the bottom of the first inning, Steverson opened up the scoring on a three-run homer to center field after back-to-back Wolverine batters reached base. The shot followed a walk drawn by Vansway and a single by freshman Caragh Morris to give UVU the early 3-0 lead.
UVU's early stretch of hot hitting continued in the second, as Williams, junior Kirsten Andersen and senior Courtney Beavers each peppered singles to load the bases for Morris. Following the trio of hits, Morris scored Williams and Andersen on a line drive off the center field wall for a two-RBI double that preceded a Vansway RBI sacrifice fly to open up a 6-0 Wolverine lead.
Steverson's big day at the plate continued in the third inning after she blasted her second homer of the afternoon on a solo shot over the left field fence, giving Utah Valley a seven-run lead.
Maine crawled back into the contest in the top of the fourth with a three-run frame to cut its deficit to four runs. A two-RBI double to right field by Kristen Niland and an RBI single from Maddie Decker brought the Black Bears to within 7-3 of the Wolverines.
The Wolverines then sealed the victory in the bottom of the fifth, as Vansway belted a walk-off, run-rule grand slam that sailed high above the left field fence. UVU's third homer of the game scored Morris, Andersen and Williams once again to give the Wolverines their first run-rule victory of the season.
With the grand slam, Vansway finished the game going 2-for-2 with three runs scored and six RBIs, while Steverson went a perfect 3-for-3 with four runs driven in and two runs scored. Morris also added a 3-for-3 outing with three RBIs and two runs scored.
UVU junior starter Lauren Frailey (4-3) was credited the win after giving up just three runs on five hits in 4.0 innings of work, while Maine's Erin Bogdanovich (1-5) took the loss.
Game two
Utah Valley responded to its first deficit of the day with four runs in the bottom of the first to take a 4-1 lead. After UVU loaded the bases, Query smoked out a grand slam to left to give the Wolverines the early lead.
The four-run opening inning for the Wolverines came on the heels of two errors by the Black Bears and a single by Vansway. Beavers opened up the first frame for UVU by reaching base on a fielding error by Maine shortstop Alyssa Derrick, while Steverson reached on a misfielded pop-up to load the bases.
Three innings later, Utah Valley extended its lead to 6-2 with a two-run double to left center from the freshman Morris in the top of the fourth inning.
UVU tacked on two more hits and another run in the bottom of the fifth, as Query led off with a single before advancing to second and freshman Taylor Miller doubled to left center to put runners on second and third. Williams followed Miller's double with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Query and gave the Wolverines a 7-2 advantage in the contest before holding on for the win in the seventh.
Query led the Wolverines at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a grand slam, four RBIs and two runs scored.
Senior right-hander Bailey Moore (1-5) earned her first victory of the season after giving up just two earned runs on five hits, while going the distance for her first complete game outing on the year. Maine's Molly Flowers (1-4) was tagged with the loss after allowing seven runs in 4.1 innings.
With the doubleheader sweep, UVU has now won six of its last seven contests.
Up next for UVU
The Wolverines cap their short four-game homestand on Wednesday with another midweek doubleheader against Wagner. Game times for Wednesday's twin bill are slated for 1 and 3 p.m. MT.
James Warnick is an assistant sports information director at Utah Valley University. For more information about Wolverine athletics, visit WolverineGreen.com.