HONOLULU – The Utah Valley University softball team couldn't hold on down the stretch on Saturday evening at the Bank of Hawaii Invitational as Hawaii managed to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat the Wolverines by a score of 4-3.  
 
With the Wolverines (4-10) holding to a 3-1 lead with one out in the last of the seventh, the host Rainbow Wahine (9-7) got the tying runners into scoring position following back-to-back hits from Keiki Carlos and Heather Morales. A UVU error then brought home Carlos to make it a 3-2 ballgame and Hawaii tried to tie the game on the play, but Breezy Roth threw a strike to home to throw out UH pinch runner Alia Monges -- who was trying to score from second on the play -- for the second out of the frame. Tayana Mata then immediately followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 3-all and Hawaii managed to win it three batters later when Mata scored the winning run on a walk-off wild pitch.

"It was a tough way to end the day, but the girls showed a lot of resilience throughout the day," head coach Nikki Palmer said. "We are looking forward to coming back with a lot of fight on Sunday."
 
The Wolverines were the first to breakthrough in the contest by scoring two first-inning runs to jump out to an early 2-0 lead. Following a leadoff walk by Morgan Smith and back-to-back bunts by Tiani Hensley and Brianna Gatlin, Brittney Vansway drove home the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. Taleigh Williams then immediately followed with a two-out RBI double to left center to give UVU a two-run cushion.
 
With the score still 2-0 in the third, Utah Valley managed to push home an unearned run in the frame to extend its lead to 3-0. The Wolverines loaded the bases in the inning thanks to hits from Smith and Hensely as well as a hit by pitch by Williams. Kristy Snyder then brought in Smith by reaching on an error to make it a 3-0 ballgame.
 
The Rainbow Wahine then answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the third but that was all the offense Hawaii could muster until the seventh.
 
Dynasty Lauvai (0-1), who came on late in the seventh to try to preserve the win for the Wolverines, was saddled with the loss to drop to 0-1 on the season as she gave up two unearned runs in a third of an inning. Kanani Aina Cabrales picked up the win for UH by going the distance in the circle and giving up just two earned runs on five hits.   
 
Despite the loss, Smith led the Wolverine offense by going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk, while Hensley, Vansway and Williams all finished with a hit apiece.
 
Morales paced the 'Bows by going 3-for-4, while Mata went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
 
The contest marked Utah Valley's second of the day as its late comeback fell just short in an 8-7 setback to Portland State earlier on Saturday.
 
UVU will conclude play at the Bank of Hawaii Invite on Sunday. The Wolverines will first face Portland State at 1 p.m. MT/10 a.m. HT before wrapping the tournament against the host Rainbow Wahine at 3:30 p.m. MT/12:30 p.m. HT. Following Sunday's final two games, Utah Valley will resume preseason tournament play at the San Diego Classic I March 4-6 in San Diego, California.