LAKEWOOD, Calif. – The Utah Valley University softball team dropped its opener of the Long Beach Louisville Slugger Invitational 5-0 to in-state foe Weber State on Friday morning at Mayfair Park.
 
Despite entering the seventh inning trailing by five runs, the Wolverines (5-8) didn't let up as they made it interesting by loading the bases with just one out. Weber State (6-5) starter MaCauley Flint managed to escape the jam and preserve the shutout, however, by drawing a pop up and a line out to end the game.
 
Flint pitched a complete game gem for WSU as she limited the Wolverines to just four hits in the contest. The First Team All-Big Sky pitcher in 2014 struck out nine while walking just three en route to her third victory of the season (3-2).    
 
Early in the game, Flint and UVU starter Bailey Moore (3-6) found themselves locked into a pitcher's duel as the game remained scoreless into the fifth inning. The two starting hurlers combined to allow just three hits until the Wildcat offense got things going in the top of the fifth. Weber State scored four runs in the inning off of three hits, including a pair of doubles, to take a 4-0 advantage.
 
WSU then added an insurance run in the top of the seventh to put the game away.
 
Alyson Kulp paced the Weber State offense by going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
 
Freshman Taleigh Williams led the Wolverines at the plate by going 2-for-3 with two singles. Fellow freshman Jaylen Watson too had a nice performance by going 1-for-1 with a single and a pair of walks. Sophomore Brittney Vansway added the lone other hit – a seventh-inning single – for the Wolverines in the game.
 
UVU will look to bounce back on Friday afternoon (12:30 p.m. MT/11:30 a.m. CT) against Stanford of the Pac-12 Conference as the Long Beach Louisville Invite continues. The Cardinal, who are currently receiving votes for the top 25, will enter the game with a 9-8 record.
 
The Wolverines will also take on Wichita State, Portland State and Southern Utah at the three-day tournament later this weekend.