LUBBOCK, Texas – The Utah Valley University softball team couldn't hold on to a four-run lead in the Texas Tech Invitational opener as UT Arlington scored eight unanswered runs to hand the Wolverines a 8-4 defeat on Friday morning at TTU's Rocky Johnson Field.
 
UVU (7-11) will look to bounce back on Friday afternoon against the host Red Raiders of the Big 12 Conference at 3 p.m. MT/4 p.m. CT.
 
With the game still scoreless in the third inning, the Wolverine offense got things going with a four-run rally to take a 4-0 lead. Freshman Jaylen Watson started the scoring with a two-run home run to left, while junior Tiani Hensley followed with a RBI single and senior Megan Peay capped the rally with a sacrifice fly.
 
The Mavericks (12-8) countered right back, however, in the last of the third with two runs of their own to cut the deficit in half at 4-2. UTA then tacked on three more in the fourth, via an RBI groundout and a two-out hit, to give the Mavs their first lead of the game at 5-4.
 
UT Arlington, who called the WAC home for the 2013 season and is now a member of the Sun Belt, then finished its scoring in the fifth with three insurance runs.
 
Freshman reliever Kellee Ramsey (0-2) suffered the loss for the Wolverines after giving up three runs in two-thirds of an inning. Sam Montes (4-5) earned the victory in relief for UTA after not allowing a run over the final four innings.
 
Despite the loss, freshman Breezy Roth, sophomore Brianna Gatlin and Hensley all finished with two hits apiece for Utah Valley in the contest.
 
Haley Henson paced the Mavericks by going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Meagan Michele finished with three RBIs for UTA.
 
The Wolverines will continue play at the Texas Tech Invite against the host Red Raiders Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. MT/4 p.m. CT. UVU will then face off against UTA (12:30 p.m. MT/1:30 p.m. CT) and TTU (5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT) on Saturday, and UT Martin in the tournament finale on Sunday at 9 a.m. MT/10 a.m. CT. For live stats and video links visit the tournament central site on TexasTech.com.