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Show B2 SPORTS MARCH 25, 2013 Life on the roa By Kyle Spencer Sports Writer @kyledspencer The road can be hostile and unfamiliar to visitors. As UVU began its 15-game stretch, visiting Salt Lake and Provo for one game in each city before heading to the west coast and then bouncing to the east coast, it experienced some of the unwelcoming effects of travel. "There's always that sense of urgency playing on the road," said Head Coach Eric Madsen. "We're in it to win games. You know, I'm not sure what they're learning [about playing on the road], but we've got to do a bet- ter job of letting the game come to us." The Wolverines struggled to maintain the offensive prowess on display during the three-game home-opening series against Nevada that saw them score 26 total runs and record 38 hits. UVU managed just four hits in the first game against Texas Tech and only three in the second game, losing 9-2 and 6-0 respectively. The heat of Lubbock, coupled with the excellent pitching of the Red Raiders held the Wolverines to a season-low .119 batting average over the two-game set. UVU tallied only one extra base hit and struck out 25 times in its visit to Texas. "We're not trusting our approach," Madsen said. "We have the tools and abilities to be successful; we just need to say within our comfort zone." UVU was able to regroup upon landing in Moraga, Calif. for a three game series against the St. Mary's Gaels. The Wolverines ended a three game losing streak with a 9-6 win in 10 innings in game one. "We competed really well today," Madsen said. "I was pleased with how the guys were able to overcome a couple of injuries and just keep fighting. We had a lot of people get into the game and do great things for us. It was a complete team effort." The bats were dusted off as the Wolverines recorded 19 hits, five of which were doubles. Shortstop Kai Hatch led UVU with four hits and two RBIs, which came as insurance in the top of the tenth inning when the Wolverines had pulled ahead, 7-6, on an RBI base hit by third baseman Beau Kallas. Game two saw the Wolverines again struggle at the plate, wasting a quality start from sophomore Ty Hansen. UVU lost 3-0, collecting just five hits in the process. Hansen pitched six solid innings, limiting the Gaels to two runs on five hits. He also struck out three. The Wolverines bounced back to take game three, 6-3, earning their second road series win of the season. Senior Adam Gunn scattered ten hits over 6.2 strong . -J UVU's women's softball team weighs a heavy schedule this season as 23 of 34 game days are on the road, giving the team more of a reason to mark their territory with road game victories By Rachel Anderson Assistant Sports Editor @rachach3x I Valid with coupon only. May not be combined with any other offer. See store for details, some restrictions may apply. 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I Know before you go B. - -1 .--e On the road again Game Console, iPacr, iPhone - or iPod'Repair I -.I KEVIN BRVAN/LIVUREVIEW $10 OFF I • e The Wolverines spent Spring Break winning in Arkansas and Florida. 1 1 FREE I Disc Repair or Resurfacing I —a _ WAKOI0101020.11K innings, striking out five while limiting the Gaels to three runs. The six runs of support were enough to allow Gunn to register his second victory of the year. Tuesday March 19 provided a chance for the Wolverines to play a game in the state of Utah, but UVU again struggled offensively, going just 7-38 (.184) at the plate against the Utes. Starting pitcher Devin Nelson's stellar performance was wasted. The junior held Utah to two runs over seven innings, striking out seven and limiting the Utes to only three hits, but the Wolverines eventually lost in 11 innings, 3-2. "We're striking out way too much. We're chasing pitches out of the zone and it's been the same story over and over. We need some guys need to step up and make adjustments," said Madsen said. "Our pitchers have done a great job keeping us in games and we've got to find a way to scratch out more runs." UVU will travel next to BYU on April 2 before taking their talents to New Jersey for conference play against NJIT. 11' COME MEET THE NEW OWNERS & MANAGEMENT. NEW LOOK! NEW FEEL! .4 PRESTON OLSEN/UVUREVIEW UVU's road inconsistencies at the plate have been a reflection of players shying away from the Wolverines' offensive approach. The Wolverines dropped the first two games of their longest road trip this season before winning two out of three against St. Mary's and losing their lone game at the University of Utah . : I I Valid with coupon only. May not be combined I with any other offer. See store for details, some 41 restrictions may apply. Expires 9/30113 HTV e With half the season complete, standing 14-9 overall, it's easy to say that it's been quite the road trip for the women's softball team this season, literally. With 34 game days scheduled, a majority of the games will be on the road, 23 to be exact, with three games on the Wolverines turf. Traveling to 11 different states during the season can take a real toll on the team but not enough to bring them down. "It gets tiring," said Head Coach Rachel Hartgrove. "We just got back from an 11-day road trip and I think everyone wanted to kill each other by the end of it." While UVU students took the week off for spring break, the lady Wolverines set quest on an 11-day road stretch to Arkansas and Florida where they went 8-3 overall. In Arkansas, the Wolverines lost 1-2. In Florida, they started strong with seven wins, but breaking the streak with a tough loss against Columbia as they left the Sunshine State. "We had that tough loss against Columbia," Hartgrove said. "But just winning those other games will lead us up to Conference this weekend. It's great." Utah Valley hooked its most recent win against the Marist Red Foxes Wednesday as they snatched a 4-3 victory. The Wolverines kept a consistent strong lead with pitcher Josi Summers heating up the game, allowing only one hit from the other team to surpass the five innings she pitched. The Foxes came back in the sixth inning to steal away the lead but couldn't hold up as Utah Valley took the win. "Marist is a good team," Hartgrove said. "They're swinging it well, have great pitching and great bats over there, so it was a good win for us." The game started heating up with third baseman Debra Lovell's home run in the fourth inning, recording it as her second home run of the season. Along with Lovell's homer, shortstop Kyrstin Jachim added two RBI's in the first-inning with a triple and Dynasty Lauvai finished the game with a game winning RBI in the bottom of the fifth. "Deborah had a very big game," Hartgrove said. "She's been stricken late but had a three for three with a couple extra base hits and a homer. Jachim just continued to be hot. That two run triple in the first inning was real big with her." This game was the second home game out of the few that the Wolverines got to hit home. Although UVU's been hitting the road more frequently than ever, a sense of comfort and tranquility is felt when they play the home field. But they're always on their toes ready to prepare for what's ahead. "We just can't play early in the year, we have to go away," Hartgrove said. "It's great to be home though. This is already our second home game and it's nice to be home once in a while. It wears on the girls being away but it's not too bad. They know what they're in for." As the Wolverines left their second home game feeling confident and victorious, they prepare to head to Moraga, California where they prepare to open the Pacific Coast Softball Conference against Saint Mary's. "We open conference this upcoming weekend at St. Mary's, so this was a big win for us to get that flow back," Hartgrove said. moothies, jhakes,,Spis jodors & jundaes at Presented by Michael Martin mummy "5xS" HOURS: 11-10 Mon-Thur 11-11 Fri-Sat;; Closed Sunday Just off 1-15 University Parkway Exit 1250 S 860 W, Orem, UT Phone 801 226 9067 r for More Info facehook.com/mustangbakery 8 HD SCREENS • BBQ RIBS n' WINGS • PIZZA • BURGERS • STEAKS • SANDWICHES • DRAFT ROOTBEER • GOURMET PIES |