SEATTLE – Despite a stellar outing from Addie Jensen in the nightcap, the Utah Valley University softball team dropped a Western Athletic Conference doubleheader to Seattle University on Friday evening at Logan Field in Seattle.
 
The Redhakws (24-15, 2-0 WAC) scored seven late runs to come from behind to take the opener, 9-3, before pulling out a pitcher's duel over the Wolverines (8-18, 0-2 WAC) in game two, 5-0, to sweep the conference-opening twin bill.
 
GAME ONE
After a scoreless first, the Redhawks were the first to get on the board with a run in the second and another in the third to take a 2-0 lead. With Kaylee Ree on first base with two away in the second, Susanne Morris reached on an error to put runners on first and second. Alyson Matriotti then made the UVU defense pay with an RBI single to left to give SU the early 1-0 advantage. Seattle then tacked on its second run in the third when Ree drove in Ally Choate with an RBI groundout to make it 2-0.
 
The Wolverines then chipped away at the deficit in the fourth by getting a run back to make it a 2-1 game. With the bases loaded following singles from Basia and Lyndsay Steverson as well as a walk from Kaylee Bott, the reigning WAC Freshman of the Year Caragh Morris delivered a two-out RBI single to right to drive home Query. The Redhawks managed to cut down the tying run at the plate on the same play, however, as SU's right fielder Cherise Silvan delivered a strike to home to throw out Steverson and keep it a 2-1 score.
 
Seattle U then looked to add to its lead in the last of the fourth on a double steal attempt with runners on the corners, but UVU shortstop Kirsten Andersen delivered a strike to the plate to cut down Silvan and keep it 2-1
 
Andersen then led off the top of the fifth for the Wolverines by singling up the middle, stealing second and reaching third on a throwing error. Moments later she then tied the game on a pinch-hit RBI single from Taleigh Williams to deadlock the score at 2-2. UVU then took its first lead of the game later in the inning when Brianna Moeller came through with a two-out RBI single to drive in Abbie Tuttle and give Utah Valley a 3-2 advantage.  
 
UVU's lead was short-lived, however, as SU answered back with seven runs of its own in the last of the fifth to regain the lead at 9-3. Ree, Savannah Loomis and Molly Campbell all drove home runs in the inning, and Choate capped the scoring with a two-out bases clearing double make it 9-3 Redhawks.
 
Seattle U would go on to take the opener by a score of 9-3.
 
Senior starter Makayla Shadle (2-6) took the loss in the circle for the Wolverines after giving up two earned runs (six total) on six hits in 5.0 innings of work. Shianne Smith (6-1) earned the win in relief for the Redhawks after allowing just one hit and no runs while striking out two in the 2.1 innings of solid relief.
 
Peyton Angulo led UVU in the ballgame at the plate by going 2-for-4, while Andersen posted a 1-for-2 outing with a run scored and two stolen bases. Choate paced the Redhawks by going 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and three runs batted in.  
 
GAME TWO
Seattle U then again opened the scoring in game two thanks to a two-run first-inning single from Maddy Kristjanson to give the Redhawks an early 2-0 cushion.
 
Both UVU's Addie Jensen and SU's Andie Larkins pitched well from there, as they combined to allow just two hits no runs into the fifth inning. 
 
Still trailing 2-0 in the fifth, the Wolverines looked to have a golden opportunity to score when Bott and Karly Bunderson both reached scoring position with nobody out. But the Preseason WAC Pitcher of the Year Larkins somehow managed to pitch out of the jam by retiring the next three batters she faced to keep it a 2-0 score.
 
Utah Valley then got a two-out hit from Moeller in the top of the sixth, but again Larkins retired the next batter she faced to keep it a 2-0 SU advantage.
 
The Seattle offense then finally broke through again in the last of the sixth, as Ree delivered a two-run triple to left and Silvan followed with an RBI double to right to make it 5-0 and put the game away.
 
Larkins (7-4) gave up just five hits while striking out three to earn the complete-game victory for Seattle, while Jensen (4-8) was the tough-luck loser for UVU after allowing five runs on six hits while striking out five in 6.0 innings of action.
 
Moeller led the Wolverine offense by going 2-for-3, while Query went posted a 1-for-3 outing with a double. Ree and Kristjanson led the Redhawks by each going 1-for-3 with two runs batted in.
 
ON DECK FOR UVU
The Wolverines and Redhawks will close the three-game league series on Saturday. First pitch for the opening WAC series finale is scheduled for 3 p.m. MT/2 p.m. PT and will air live on the WAC Digital Network. Following Saturday's contest, UVU will return to Orem to open a six-game homestand against non-conference foe Boise State on Wednesday, April 4 for a doubleheader at 1 and 3 p.m. MT at Wolverine Field.