LOGAN, Utah – Dynasty Lauvai and Hailey Kofler both hit clutch seventh-inning home runs to propel Utah Valley University to an 8-6 come-from-behind win over Utah State in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader at Johnson Field in Logan on Tuesday afternoon.

"Lauvai and Kofler came up big for us with those home runs," said Utah Valley head coach Nikki Palmer. "They were exactly what we needed and very exciting."
 
With UVU (16-29) down to its last out trailing 6-4 in top of the seventh, Brittney Vansway and Taleigh Williams both reached on consecutive singles to set the table for Lauvai. The pinch-hitter then stepped to the plate and delivered a go-ahead three-run home run to center field to give Utah Valley its first lead of game since the second inning. Kofler then made it 8-6 as she followed with a solo shot to left to make it back-to-back home runs for UVU.
 
Vansway, Williams, Kori Barrios and Morgan Smith all finished with two hits apiece in the game for the Wolverines. Lauvai, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with a home runs, led the way in RBIs with three.
 
Trailing 4-2 early in the game, UVU started the comeback with a run in the third. With Smith on second base, Vansway brought her home with a double to left center. The Wolverines then tied the game briefly at 4-4 with a run in the fifth when Jaylen Watson drove in Tiani Hensley on a fielder's choice.
 
The Aggies (16-27) then regained the lead at 6-4 with a pair of runs in the last of the fifth thanks to a go-ahead two-run round tripper from Sarah Vasquez.
 
Bailey Moore earned the win in relief for UVU after allowing just two earned runs in 5.2 innings to improve to 10-17 on the year. Alleyah Armendariz (1-12) suffered the loss for the Aggies after giving up both home runs in the top of the seventh.  
 
The contest marked the first of a six-game road stretch for the Wolverines.
 
Game two of the doubleheader was called due to inclement weather (rain/snow and wind) with UVU trailing by a score of 4-3 in the top of the fourth inning. The nightcap of the twin bill will not be made up. 

"It was great to get a big team win over Utah State today," added Palmer. "Those in-state wins are also good to get and we will surely take this momentum into the weekend." 

The Wolverines will continue their road stretch at WAC foe Grand Canyon this weekend. UVU and GCU will play a three-game conference series beginning Friday at 6 p.m. MT in Phoenix.