LAS CRUCES, N.M. – No. 5 Utah Valley University managed to withstand a seventh-inning rally from No. 4 Seattle University to hold on to a 9-8 win over the Redhawks. With the win, UVU advances on to play the top seed and host New Mexico State Aggies on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the 2015 WAC Softball Tournament in Las Cruces.
 
Bailey Moore, who started in the circle for the Wolverines (18-40), re-entered into a jam in the seventh inning. With three already home in the final stanza on a three-run home run from SU's (16-36) Bubba Morrow, Moore entered with two-one on two-out and her team holding to a 9-7 advantage. The ground-ball pitcher then drew a ground ball from Paige Bouska but Tiani Hensley couldn't field it cleanly as another run came in to make it a one run game. Following a walk from Moore to advance the tying run to second and the go-ahead run on first, the sophomore right-hander then drew a foul flyout from Rose Saenz to end the game.
 
Moore pitched 6.1 innings in the contest and gave up just one earned (four total) on eight hits to improve to 12-20 on the year and help extend the Wolverines' season. Brianna Gatlin paced the UVU offense as she went a perfect 4-for-4 with three RBIs and three doubles, which included a go-ahead two-run double in the fourth.
 
The Redhawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a pair of first-inning doubles. SU then tacked on two more unearned runs in the second following a throwing error by the Wolverines. Seattle U then loaded the bases in the third and looked to tack on some more, but UVU catcher Kori Barrios made a fine defensive play to end the threat. After a pitch got away from Moore and went all the way to the backstop, Barrios played the carom perfectly and tossed it back to Moore, who was covering the plate, to tag the SU runner for the final out of the frame.
 
Another UVU error proved costly in the fourth, as the Redhawks managed to drive home their third unearned run of the contest to take a 4-0 advantage. It could have been more, however, but centerfielder Kelli Gendlek made a nice play on a deep fly ball to the wall to end the frame.
 
With two out in the last of the fourth, the Wolverines managed to piece together a five-run two-out rally to take a 5-4 lead. After loading the bases, pinch-hitter Kristy Snyder delivered another clutch hit in the tournament with a two-run double down the left field line. Morgan Smith then followed with an RBI infield single and she advanced to second on the throwing error on the SU third baseman. Gatlin then capped the rally with a two-run double to left center to give the Wolverines their first lead of the game.
 
UVU then plated four crucial insurance runs in the sixth to extend its lead to 9-4. The first two came in on throwing error on the SU second baseman, who was trying to cut down a runner at the plate but the throw sailed up the line on her. Gatlin then drove home her third run of the contest with a double to center and Taleigh Williams brought in the much-needed fourth insurance run of the frame with an RBI single to center.
 
By drawing a base on balls in the first inning, Watson broke a single-season school record for walks in the contest with 28 free passes on the season for UVU.
 
The win marks the second of the tournament for Utah Valley over the Redhawks as it began its 2015 WAC Tournament run with a 13-3 run-rule win over SU on Thursday.
 
The winner of Friday's nightcap against the top seeded NM State Aggies will advance to Saturday championship game against No. 3 CSU Bakersfield. The first title game will begin on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the NM State Softball Complex.