KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Following a 3-2 extra-inning setback earlier in the day, the Utah Valley University softball team bounced back to take game two of a WAC doubleheader over Missouri-Kansas City with a 4-3 victory over the Kangaroos on Friday evening at the Missouri 3&2 Complex.
 
Breezy Roth and Brittney Vansway delivered the big hits in the game for UVU (6-31, 2-6 WAC), as Roth belted out a three-run home run in the fifth and Vansway plated the go-ahead run in the seventh with a clutch two-out RBI double.
 
"Today we showed tremendous growth. Both Brittney and Breezy came up big for us and it was exciting to witness Breezy's first home run," said head UVU coach Nikki Palmer. "Our pitchers really worked together and played the game the way it is supposed to be played. Overall it was a great team win."
 
With UVU trailing by a run in the fifth, Roth smacked out her first collegiate home run with a two-out three-run shot over the left-center field wall to give the Wolverines a 3-1 lead. Roth's three-run round tripper brought home both Tiani Hensley and Morgan Smith after the duo each singled earlier in the frame.
 
The Wolverines then looked for more in the sixth when Taleigh Williams and Hensley both reached base after getting hit by a pitch and reaching on an error, respectively. With one out and runners on the corners, pinch runner Bryanna Fox was thrown out at the plate on a double steal attempt and Kori Barrios then fouled out to left to end the threat.
 
The 'Roos (17-19, 6-2 WAC) then answered back with a pair of runs on back-to-back RBI doubles in the last of the sixth to tie the game at 3-3. Following a one-out walk to Kendra Leach, Abby Warkentine and Morgan Byrn delivered consecutive doubles to tie the contest.
 
After hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning of game one of the day, Vansway once again came through for the Wolverines with a clutch two-out go-ahead RBI double during the seventh inning of Friday's nightcap. With Brianna Gatlin leading from second after singling earlier in the frame and Dana De La Torre on first following a two-out walk, the junior slugger ripped a ball down the left field corner to plate the go-ahead run in Gatlin.
 
With UVU then holding to a 4-3 advantage in the seventh, reliever Kelsey Ensign managed to retire the 'Roos in order in the bottom of the frame to preserve the one-run win for the Wolverines.
 
Ensign (1-2) earned her first win of the season in the circle for Utah Valley after not allowing a hit in 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. UVU starter Makayla Shadle too pitched well for the Wolverines in the contest after giving up just three runs and four hits in 5.1 innings of work.
 
Vansway paced the UVU offense in the game by going 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Roth finished with a 1-for-4 outing with her three-run homer.
 
The contest snapped a nine game skid for the Wolverines.
 
UVU will look to take the series on Saturday when the three-game WAC series concludes at 11 a.m. MT/noon CT. Following Saturday's finale, the Wolverines will return home to welcome neighboring rival BYU to town for a non-conference midweek contest on Wednesday, April 20.