OREM, Utah – A fifth-inning grand slam by Brittney Vansway made a game of it, but Missouri-Kansas City prevailed over Utah Valley University, 11-7, on Friday afternoon.

The game was the first of a Friday doubleheader and the first of a three-game WAC series to close out the conference schedule.

On the verge of the game ending via run rule, the Wolverines were able to extend the contest after a six-run fifth inning. Brianna Gatlin was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Jaylen Watson had a sac-fly to bring home a run and, after Erin Romero was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Vansway homered down the line in left to make it an 11-7 game.

The Wolverines (16-34, 3-10) were hurt by four errors in the first two innings, leading to five unearned runs for the Kangaroos (25-24, 5-7). Just five of the 11 runs in the game scored as earned runs.

UMKC scored runs in each of the first five innings in building an 11-1 lead heading to the bottom of the fifth.

Morgan Smith, Gatlin and Vansway had two hits apiece to lead the Wolverines while Cinda Ramos was 3-for-3 and Caitlin Christopher had two hits and five RBIs for Kansas City.

Game two of the doubleheader will be played Friday afternoon with the finale scheduled for Saturday at noon MT on Senior Day at Wolverine Field.