FULLERTON, Calif. – Despite a first-inning home run from Brianna Gatlin and a sixth-inning long ball from Jaylen Watson, the Utah Valley University softball team dropped its fifth straight game as it fell to Wichita State, 8-3, on Saturday morning at Cal State Fullerton's Anderson Family Field.
 
After allowing an unearned run in the top of the first, Gatlin answered for the Wolverines (5-10) with a two-run homer to give UVU a 2-1 lead. The long ball is the sophomore slugger's third of the season.
 
The Shockers (10-9), who won the Missouri Valley Conference a year ago, then responded with another unearned run in the second to tie the game at 2-all. The game then remained tied until the fourth when WSU scored three runs thanks to a two-run home run and an RBI single. Wichita State then tacked on two more runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to take an 8-2 advantage.
 
Watson then tried to jumpstart UVU offensively in the bottom of the sixth by clubbing out a leadoff home run, but it didn't get the job done as that's all the offense the Wolverines could muster the rest of the way.
 
Kailey Christensen got the start in the circle for Utah Valley and was tagged with the loss (0-1) after going 4.0 innings and allowing seven runs (five earned). Katie Malone (5-4) earned the win for WSU after giving up just one run in seven innings of relief.
 
Gatlin and Watson both finished with two hits apiece to lead UVU at the plate in the contest. Liz Broyles led the Shockers by going 3-for-4 with a run scored.
 
Utah Valley will look to bounce back against Portland State this afternoon as the two will face-off at CSF's Anderson Family Field at 1 p.m. MT/noon PT. The Long Beach Louisville Slugger Invitational will then conclude on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. MT/9 a.m. PT against in-state foe Southern Utah at LBSU's 49er Softball Complex.