Feb. 8, 2009
Box Score
St. George, UT --- Emily Hu went 3-for-3 in her first start of the season, but Utah Valley used a pair of long balls, including a back-breaking three-run home run in the seventh to pull away from Idaho State 7-3 in the fourth game of the Red Devil Classic in St. George, Utah.
The Bengals took the lead in the second on a pair of unearned runs. Krista Armstrong reached second on a dropped fly ball, and with two outs, Emily Hu beat out an infield single and advanced to second base on a throwing error, and Armstrong scored having never hesitated rounding third. Megan Miller, who homed in the early game of the day, capped off her birthday with a double, her second hit in as many innings.
Utah Valley scored three runs in the top of the fourth off Kandis Clesson (0-3), an inning which got started on a double by Amber Sackett, who transferred to Utah Valley in the offseason from Idaho State. However, ISU tied it in the bottom of the fourth when pinch hitter Brittany Olsin hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Jenn Martensen, who doubled to lead the inning off.
UVU went ahead for good in the top of the fifth on a home run by the pitcher Amanda Perez, and then in the seventh, third baseman Jessica Anderson cranked a three-run bomb to give the Wolverines a four-run cushion, more than enough for Perez (2-0).
The loss wasted a brilliant first start of the season for Hu, who batted ninth and went 3-for-3 with three singles and a stolen base. Clesson allowed a season-high seven runs on eight hits, walking eight as well with six strikeouts. Perez allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits, walking three and striking out just one.
Idaho State takes on Utah State on Sunday in the final game of the tournament.
NOTES: The game marked the first this season in which Idaho State did not hit a home run ... Miller had three hits on her birthday ... ISU has led in each of the last three games ... Jessica Baca's three-game hitting streak ended ... Miller and Martensen hit ISU's first doubles of the season ... Hu's stolen base in the fourth made ISU 5-for-5 on the base paths this year.
