The Utah Valley University women’s softball team (2-4) was shut out 9-0 in a no-hitter to the No. 24 University of Oregon Ducks (4-2) after six innings in the opening game of the Campbell/Cartier Classic on Friday in San Diego, California.
The Wolverines’ defense was able to hold the Ducks to two runs through the first five innings before the Ducks automatically won the game, by rule, by scoring seven runs in the sixth inning. Despite a few Wolverines reaching base on errors or a walk, UVU was never able to get off one base hit.
Kalena Shepherd accounted for the Wolverines’ only walk.
Katie Zuniga (1-3) pitched 5.1 innings for the Wolverines before Payge Armendariz and Joslyn Thieme came in relief during the sixth but were unable to stop the bleeding as the Ducks triumphed to victory.
The Ducks scored their nine runs off 11 hits (.407 hitting percentage), three home runs, and eight runners batted in.
After a scoreless start, the Ducks started the bottom of the second inning with two runners in scoring position. After a wild pitch by Zuniga, Terra McGowan was able to run to home plate from third base and give the Ducks an early 1-0 lead.
Shepherd was the first Wolverine to reach base in the game, getting walked in the fifth inning after reaching a full count at bat. Jaeden Barajas was able to reach base on a fielder’s choice in the following at-bat but Victoria Vasquez (pinch-running for Shepherd) was gunned down trying to reach second base during the play.
Subsequently, Megan Gibbs was able to reach base on a fielder’s choice but Barajas was forced out trying to reach second. In the following play, Gibbs tried to steal second base but was caught and tagged out.
KK Humphreys opened the bottom of the fifth inning with a home run to extend the Ducks’ lead to 2-0. Oregon was able to get another runner on base, and eventually into scoring position, but Zuniga was able to get out of trouble, forcing a fly out and ground out to close out the inning.
Angelique Mann was able to reach base for the Wolverines after a miscue in the infield in the top of the sixth inning, keeping hope for UVU alive. A few at-bats later, Taylor Wooten was able to reach base on fielder’s choice as the Ducks gunned Mann down before she could get to second. The inning then quickly came to an end for the Wolverines after Libbie Hawker struck out.
The Ducks’ offense then erupted in the bottom of the frame as they scored seven runs off seven hits, including two home runs to force the game to end with a final score of 9-0.
UVU now has an 0-12 record against Oregon all-time.
Throughout the rest of the Campbell/Cartier Classic, the Wolverines will compete against Loyola Marymount University Lions (2-4), University of California – Riverside Highlanders (3-4), San Diego State University Aztecs (7-1), and once again LMU in their final game of the tournament.
The games can be followed live on statbroadcast.com.
