LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Utah Valley University softball team managed to piece together a five-run fifth to overcome an early deficit and defeat in-state foe Southern Utah on Sunday morning at the Long Beach Louisville Slugger Invitational finale at Long Beach State's 49er Softball Complex by a score of 7-4.
 
Junior Tiani Hensley delivered the big hit for the Wolverines (7-10) in fifth with a go-ahead three-run home run.
 
"It was a great day for the team today," said head coach Nikki Palmer. "Bailey (Moore) proved to be consistent for us yet again on the mound and our offense exploded when we needed it to. It was exciting to see the fight in this team and the tenacity they showed through seven strong innings."
 
Trailling 4-2, the UVU offense got things going in the fifth. Freshman Jaylen Watson began the rally with a one-out double and sophomore Brittney Vansway promptly followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Freshman Taleigh Williams then drove home the first run of the frame with an RBI single through the left side of the infield. Freshman Cera Stanley, who was Saturday's hero against Portland State, then delivered once again with an RBI double to tie the score at 4-all. Two batters later, Hensley hit the clutch two-out three-run homer to give UVU the lead for good at 7-4.  
 
Sophomore pitcher Bailey Moore, who came on in relief back in the first inning, then put up zeros the rest of the way to preserve the win for Utah Valley. Moore (5-6) ended up pitching the full seven innings in relief to record the win after allowing just three hits and no earned runs while striking out six during her outing.
 
Junior Morgan Smith led UVU at the plate in the game by going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. Eight other players recorded a hit apiece, and Hensley topped the group by going 1-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
 
SUU (3-11) was the first team to score in the contest as they scored a first-inning run thanks to three straight hits. UVU then answered with two of its own in the second thanks to a bases loaded walk and a hit batter to take a 2-1 advantage. The Thunderbirds, who made the NCAA Tournament a year ago after winning the Big Sky Tournament, then took advantage of two Wolverine miscues in the third to score three unearned runs to pull ahead at 4-2. The score remained 4-2 until the fifth when Utah Valley managed to piece together its five-run rally to complete the comeback.
 
With the victory, the Wolverines finished going 2-3 at the Long Beach Louisville Slugger Invite. After dropping its first three games on the weekend, UVU battled back to win its final two with the win over SUU as well as an 8-5 victory over Portland State on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Wolverines will continue preseason play at the Texas Tech Invitational in Lubbock, Texas, next weekend (March 6-8). There, UVU will face host TTU twice, UT Arlington twice and UT Martin once.