OREM, Utah – Despite three home runs and 12 hits from its offense, Utah Valley University couldn't overcome an early deficit as it dropped the series finale to Missouri-Kansas City, 9-7, on Senior Day in Orem. The contest not only marked the final Western Athletic Conference game of the season, but also the final home game of 2015 for the Wolverines.
 
Brianna Gatlin, Jaylen Watson and Kristy Snyder all homered for UVU (16-36, 3-12 WAC) in the ballgame and Morgan Smith led the way for the Wolverines at the plate by going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a triple. With a bases clearing triple in the second inning, Smith became the program's all-time leader in three-baggers with 10 for her career.
 
"The girls did a good job of fighting and working together for their seniors today. But ultimately we needed to clean it up a bit defensively to get the job done," head coach Nikki Palmer said. 
 
UMKC (27-24, 7-7 WAC), who swept the weekend series with the win on Saturday, jumped out to a 6-0 lead after it scored six times in the top of the second inning. All six runs were unearned, however, as they all came after a defensive miscue by the Wolverines in the frame.
 
UVU answered right back with four runs of its own in the last of the second to make it a 6-4 score. Gatlin started the scoring with a solo home run to center and after a dropped third strike by the Kangaroo catcher extended the inning, Smith delivered her bases clearing triple to pull the Wolverines within two runs.
 
After a couple of scoreless frames, Utah Valley later tied the game at 6-all in the bottom of the fifth following a solo home run from Watson and a clutch pinch-hit RBI single from Taleigh Williams.
 
The 'Roos then regained the lead in the sixth on a two-run home run to left from pitcher Cinda Ramos to take an 8-6 advantage. After a nice battle in the bottom of the inning, Snyder then delivered a pinch-hit solo homer on the 14th pitch of the at-bat to make it a one-run game at 8-7. UMKC later pushed home an insurance run in the top of the seventh, however, to put the ballgame away.
 
Makayla Shadle (5-6) started in the circle for the Wolverines and suffered the loss after giving up eight runs (two earned) in 5.1 innings of work, while UMKC's Ramos (9-5) earned her second win in as many days after giving up just two runs in three innings of relief.
 
Brooke Parker and Bri Wyatt paced the 'Roo offense by both going 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs. Four Wolverines recorded two hits apiece in the contest to lead UVU, as Smith, Watson, Vansway and Kelli Gendlek all went 2-for-4. 
 
The contest marked the final home game for Gendlek, Megan Peay and Erin Romero as they were all honored prior to first pitch for their careers in a Wolverine uniform as part of Senior Day.
 
"We have a really unique senior class," added Palmer. "They are all great leaders and it was nice to come out and celebrate them today."
 
With the loss, UVU finished its WAC season in sixth place with a 3-12 league record. It will enter the WAC Tournament, which will be held in two week's in Las Cruces, New Mexico (May 7-9), as the five seed.
 
The Wolverines will now look to prepare for the upcoming WAC Championships by heading to No. 6 Oklahoma for a two-game series in Norman next Saturday and Sunday (May 2-3). UVU will then close its regular season at BYU on May 5.