ST. GEORGE, Utah - A late rally in the bottom of the seventh came up just short as Utah Valley fell to Northern Colorado, 5-4 in its season opener at the Red Desert Classic.

"I'm never satisfied with a loss, but I thought our girls showed something coming back the way they did," UV head coach Todd Fairbourne said. "We had a lot of young players playing in their first Division I game."

Six of the Wolverines (0-1) nine starters were making their Division I debut.

Northern Colorado scored first when Hillarie Van Otterloo hit a home run with two aboard to give the Bears a quick 3-0 lead in the third inning. Utah Valley responded in the bottom of the third when Magan Niemann led the inning off with a ground-rule double and scored on a double off the bat of true freshman Meghan Woodworth.

The Bears (1-0) came back with runs in the top of the fourth and seventh innings giving them a 5-1 cushion heading in to the bottom of the final frame.

UV chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Abby Bowcutt and Natalie Bartholomew got on base to start the inning on a single and a walk, respectively. After UNC recorded two outs, Woodworth walked to set up a bases-loaded, two out situation. Lauren Augino had a two-run opposite field single and Cherylyn McGraw followed with a RBI single of her own to put the lead at 5-4 with two runners on.

Northern Colorado's Kelli Henderson was able to get the strike out in UV's last chance to preserve the win for the bears.

UV was led by Woodworth's 2-for-2 performance from the plate. She scored a run and also reached base on a walk.

The Wolverines return to action this afternoon when they face off against Loyola Marymount at 4 p.m.