SANTEE, Calif. – After falling to San Diego earlier in the day, the Utah Valley University softball team managed to score three timely runs in the sixth inning to overtake Western Carolina for good as it went on to defeat the Catamounts by a score of 4-2 at the San Diego Classic II on Saturday afternoon.
 
"The girls showed a lot of fight today, and it was great to see them rally back," said head coach Nikki Palmer. Makayla (Shadle) did her job and our defense really stepped it up for us. I'm real proud of their effort."
 
Trailing 1-0 for the majority of the game, UVU (11-15) got its offense going in the fifth as it scored a run to tie the game at 1-all. Following a one-out walk by Taleigh Williams and a single to left from Cera Stanley, Erin Romero delivered an RBI double to right center to tie the game at 1-1.
 
The Catamounts (7-16) of the Southern Conference then regained the lead, at 2-1, in the bottom of the fifth via an infield single. The lead was short lived for WCU, however, as the Wolverines scored three runs in the sixth to overtake the lead for good.
 
In that sixth inning, Brianna Gatlin got things going with a leadoff double and Jaylen Watson immediately drove her home with a sharp single up the middle to tie the game. After the Wolverines loaded the bases, Williams then made it a 3-2 game with a fielder's choice to third. Pinch hitter Haley Harrison then worked a bases loaded walk to give UVU a 4-2 advantage.
 
Makayla Shadle held the Catamount offense at bay the rest of the way as she retired WCU in order in both the sixth and seventh innings. Shadle went the distance in the circle for UVU to improve to 3-3 on the season. The freshman right-hander gave up just one earned run in the full 7.0 innings, as she struck out five while scattering five hits.
 
Gatlin lead UVU at the plate by going 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and a walk, while Romero finished going a perfect 1-for-1 with an RBI and a walk.
 
Kara Salvo paced Western Carolina by going 2-for-2 with an RBI.
 
UVU will conclude play at the San Diego Classic II on Sunday morning against Santa Clara. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m. MT/10 a.m. PT at Sportsplex USA Santee. Following Sunday's tournament finale, the Wolverines will welcome Weber State to Wolverine Field for UVU's home opener on Wednesday, March 18.