SEATTLE – Just hours removed from a 4-0 victory over Seattle University, the Utah Valley University softball team fell to the top seed and 2016 conference champion New Mexico State Aggies by a score of 5-2 on Thursday afternoon at the 2016 WAC Tournament in Seattle.
 
Trailing 5-0 in the seventh, UVU (9-42) looked to stage a late comeback as it loaded the bases and drove home a pair of runs but NM State's (37-19) Kayla Green managed to come on and escape the jam to record the save and the win for the Aggies.
 
"It was a tough loss. It's definitely not what we had planned, but we're going to get stronger and better from it," head coach Nikki Palmer said. "I think we need to make a couple of adjustments a little earlier on in the game. But we'll come come out and play our game tomorrow and we'll be fine."
 
The Aggies were the first team to get on the board in the contest, as they drove home a run in the bottom of the first to jump out to an early 1-0 advantage. With runners on first and second and two away, NMSU's Corrin Green delivered a two-out RBI single to center to give NM State the early lead.
 
New Mexico State then tacked on three more runs in the second thanks to a pair of Wolverine miscues. Kelsey Horton delivered a two-run single in the frame and the third run came around to score on a throwing error, as NMSU extended its advantage to 4-0.
 
With the score still 4-0 in the fourth, Tiani Hensley helped keep it that way for the time being by starting a picturesque 4-6-3 double play. On a sharply hit ground ball up the middle, the Wolverine middle infielder managed to range to her right, back hand the ball and glove flip it to Morgan Smith covering the bag at second all in one motion to start the double play. Three batters later however, Tatum Reedy then drove home an insurance run on a sharply hit ground ball down the first base line to give the Aggies a 5-0 lead.
 
With the game still 5-0 in the seventh, the Utah Valley offense then got things going by loading the bases thanks to an error and back-to-back singles from Hensley and Kori Barrios. The Wolverines then got on the board when Dynasty Lauvai reached on another NMSU error to make it a 5-1 score. Cera Stanley immediately followed with an RBI single to the left side of the infield to make it 5-2. With the bases still loaded and just one out in the frame, NM State's Kayla Green then came on to retire Jaymee Lawton and Breezy Roth to end the threat and the game.
 
First Team All-WAC member Karysta Donisthorpe shined in the circle for NM State en route to picking up her 12th victory of the season (12-8). Donisthorpe struck out a career-high 13 batters in the contest while allowing just three hits in 5.2 innings of work. After Makayla McAdams got into trouble in the seventh, Green then came on in the seventh to record her second save of the season for the Aggies. Bailey Moore (4-25) was tagged with the loss for UVU after allowing two earned runs (five total) in the full seven innings of work.
 
Hensley led the Wolverine offense in the game by going 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Second Team All-WAC performer Breezy Roth also put up two hits for UVU including a double.
 
The contest marked the second of the day for the Wolverines, as they previously defeated the No. 4 seed and host Seattle U Redhawks by a score of 4-0 in the tournament's opening game on Thursday morning. First Team All-WAC selection Brittney Vansway and Brianna Gatlin led the way offensively by going a combined 5-for-6 with all four RBIs and a home run apiece. Makayla Shadle and Moore too pitched well for UVU, as they combined for a five-hit shutout.
 
Utah Valley will now head to the consolation bracket to take on No. 4 Seattle for the second time in as many days on Friday afternoon in an elimination game. The contest is slated for a 4:30 p.m. MT/3:30 p.m. PT start at SU's Logan Field.