TEMPE, Ariz. – Behind a complete game outing from freshman Makayla Shadle and three home runs, including two from junior Dynasty Lauvai, the Utah Valley University softball team knocked off Wisconsin of the Big Ten Conference at the Kajikawa Classic on Friday afternoon by a score of 9-5. The game was the second of the day for the Wolverines as they previously dropped their 2015 opener to the Bradley Braves, 7-1.
 
With the win over the Badgers (0-2), who are currently receiving votes for the top 25, the Wolverines improved to 1-1 on the year and will continue play at the opening-season tournament on Saturday.
 
"This is a huge win for us. The girls really grew up and got better fast, especially coming off of that first game that I thought we should've had," said head coach Nikki Palmer. "Makayla (Shadle) did a great job in the circle and all of our hitters were tremendous. It was a total team effort."
 
In a battle of a pair 2014 NCAA Tournament teams, UVU found itself trailing the Badgers by three runs in the third (4-1). That's when Lauvai blasted a three-run home run, her first of the game, to deep left to tie the contest at four. The game remained knotted up at 4-all until the fifth when sophomore Hailey Kofler and Lauvai hit back-to-back round trippers to give the Wolverines a 7-4 advantage. Kofler's go-ahead homer was a line drive shot that just snuck over the wall in the left field corner while Lauvai's second long ball of the day cleared the wall with ease in left-center.
 
Wisconsin would get a run back in the last of the fifth, but the true freshman Shadle would bare down and put up zeros the rest of the way to help the Wolverines pick up the upset win over the Big Ten Conference foe. In her first collegiate start, Shadle went the full seven innings and scattered nine hits, while striking out three, walking just two, and giving up just four earned runs.
 
UVU capped its scoring against the Badgers in the sixth, as sophomore Brittney Vansway and Lauvai each drove in runs.
 
Lauvai led the Wolverines in the contest by going 3-for-4 at the plate with five RBIs and two runs scored. Vansway and freshman Haley Harrison too had big performances, as they recorded two hits apiece.
 
In the season opener against Bradley, who too made the NCAA Tournament last year after winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, the game remained tight into the fifth inning. With UVU trailing by just one, at 2-1, the Braves managed to piece together a five-run two-out rally to put the game away.
 
Despite struggling with their control, the Bradley pitching staff limited the Wolverine offense to just two hits in the contest. Lauvai and junior Tiani Hensley recorded a hit apiece for UVU in the game while Harrison drove home the lone Wolverine run via a bases loaded walk.
 
On the day, Lauvai finished going 4-for-6 at the plate with two home runs and two doubles.
 
UVU will continue play at the Kajikawa Classic on Saturday at 9 a.m. against Virginia of the ACC at Arizona State's Farrington Stadium. The Wolverines will then take on San José State later that afternoon at 4 p.m. at the Tempe Sports Complex. Utah Valley will wrap up play at the opening-season tournament on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. against another team from the Big Ten Conference in Indiana.