LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Utah Valley University softball team opened its 2016 season with a a pair of setbacks to Texas Tech and No. 14 Minnesota on Friday at the Sportco Kick Off Classic in Las Vegas. The Wolverines first dropped a 5-1 decision to the Red Raiders before falling by a score of 9-0 in five innings to the ranked Golden Gophers.
 
The Wolverine (0-2) offense combined for just five hits on the day, as it recorded four against the Big 12 Red Raiders (2-0) and one against the Big Ten Gophers (1-0).
 
"It was a little bit of a slow start and not exactly where we want to be," head coach Nikki Palmer said. "But as a positive we were able to see some things that we need to work on. We'll try to tighten those up and be ready to go tomorrow."
 
TTU took the upper hand in the second inning of the opening game when freshman Karli Hamilton belted a three-run homer to center to give the Red Raiders an early 3-0 lead.
 
UVU then countered with a run of its own in the top of the third to cut the deficit to two at 3-1. Sophomore catcher Dana De La Torre started the rally with a single and pinch runner Kendall Ohman later came around to score on an RBI double to left from senior shortstop Tiani Hensley.
 
Texas Tech then countered with an insurance run in the fifth and another in the sixth to propel it to the 5-1 victory.
 
Junior Bailey Moore took the loss in the circle for the Wolverines as she allowed three runs on six hits and two walks, while Texas Tech's Cheyenne Powell earned the victory by giving up just one unearned run on four hits.
 
In Friday's nightcap against Minnesota, starter Kylie Stober shined in the circle for the Gophers as she struck out six while allowing just two walks and one hit en route to the shutout.
 
Minnesota, who made the 2015 NCAA Tournament a year ago after going 49-11 and was picked to finish second in the Big Ten this year, managed to push home at least one run in every inning in the contest against the Wolverines.
 
Sara Groenewegen started the scoring for the Gophers with a first-inning solo home run. Following a manufactured run in the second frame, Minnesota's Maddie Houlihan then delivered a two-run shot to left to extend the lead to 4-0. The Gophers later put the game away after adding three more runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth.
 
Despite the losses, five different Wolverines tallied a hit apiece on the day for UVU with Hensley and sophomore Kristy Snyder leading the way with doubles.
 
The Wolverines will look to rebound on Saturday when the Sportco Kick Off Classic continues against Lamar and South Dakota at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park in Henderson. Saturday's opener against the Cardinals will begin at 2:30 p.m. MT/1:30 p.m. PT while the nightcap against the Coyotes will take place at 4:45 p.m. MT/3:45 p.m. PT. Utah Valley will then close the tournament against the host UNLV Rebels on Sunday at 4:45 p.m. MT/3:45 p.m. PT at UNLV's Eller Media Stadium.