SEATTLE – The fifth-seeded Utah Valley University softball team had its 2016 season come to a close with a 7-2 setback to the No. 4 seed and host Seattle University Redhawks on Friday afternoon at the WAC Softball Tournament in Seattle.
 
With the loss, the Wolverines conclude their season with a 9-43 overall record and a 1-2 ledger at the 2016 WAC Tournament.
 
"This was a tough one. We just needed a couple of more timely swings and to be able take care of the ball a bit better defensively," head UVU coach Nikki Palmer said. "Overall I thought that we came out strong and played really competitively this weekend. I wish we would've played a bit better today however, because the future was looking bright beyond this one."
 
After the Redhawks (19-32) managed to push across an unearned run in the top of the first, the Wolverines wasted no time answering back thanks to a two-run bomb off the bat of Brittney Vansway in the bottom of the frame. Vansway's second home run of the tournament and team-high ninth of the season gave Utah Valley an early 2-1 lead.
 
The lead was short lived however, as SU loaded the bases in the second and scored three runs on a bases clearing double from Kaylee Ree to give Seattle a 4-2 advantage.
 
The score remained 4-2 until the fourth when Seattle U once again managed to load the bases and score three more times to extend its lead to 7-2. Savannah Loomis, Breanna Timmons and Maddy Kristjanson all registered RBIs in the frame for the Redhawks.
 
Utah Valley then looked primed to score in the bottom of the fifth when it loaded the bases with just one away. But SU reliever Alyssa Reuble managed to get out of the jam by striking out Brianna Gatlin and drawing an inning-ending ground ball off the bat of Vansway to keep it a 7-2 ballgame.
 
UVU then got the leadoff runner on in the sixth and a two-out base runner on in the seventh, but the Wolverines couldn't manage to score either frame as SU held on for the 7-2 victory.
 
Andie Larkins (12-14) claimed the victory in the circle for SU after giving up just two runs in in 4.0 innings of work while Reuble came on to earn a three-inning save. Makayla Shadle (2-8) was tagged with the loss for UVU after giving up three earned runs (four total) in an inning and a third of action.
 
First Team All-WAC performer Vansway led the Wolverine offense in the game by going 1-for-3 with a two-run home run. Seniors Morgan Smith and Dynasty Lauvai too registered a hit apiece for UVU in their final collegiate ballgame, while fellow senior Tiani Hensley recorded a pair of assists and a trio of defensive putouts. 
 
"Our seniors have been the heart of soul of the team. They all worked very hard and really wanted this, so this is an unfortunate way for them to go out," Palmer added. "But we all have a tremendous amount of respect for them and the legacy that they are leaving behind."
 
The senior speedster Smith will leave Utah Valley as the program's all-time leader in stolen bases (61), stolen base percentage (91-percent, 61-of-67), stolen base attempts (67), triples (11) and total games played (219).
 
The contest marked Utah Valley's inaugural WAC Tournament loss to Seattle U, as the Wolverines entered the ballgame with a perfect 3-0 record against SU in WAC Tournament play following an opening round victory over the Redhawks on Thursday. Despite the loss, UVU still holds an 8-4 all-time record in WAC Tournament play.
 
The Wolverines finished with a 1-2 record at the 2016 WAC Tournament after going 1-1 on Thursday with a 4-0 win over Seattle and a 5-2 loss to the top seed and regular season champion New Mexico State Aggies. 

Following the conclusion of the tournament on Saturday, Vansway was named to the all-tournament team for UVU. Vansway received all-tournament accolades after hitting .444 on the weekend with two home runs, a double and four RBIs. 

WAC All-Tournament Team
Emma Adams, NM State
Karysta Donisthorpe, NM State
Katie Kelley, Missouri-Kansas City
Jo Larios, CSU Bakersfield
Amber Mills, CSU Bakersfield
Kaylee Ree, Seattle U
Tatum Reedy, NM State
Rachel Rodriguez, NM State
Breanna Timmons, Seattle U
Brittney Vansway, Utah Valley
 
MVP: Sydney Raeber, CSU Bakersfield