OREM, Utah — Utah Valley and Dixie State split a Saturday doubleheader in the programs' first-ever meeting at the NCAA Division I level. The Wolverines won the opener, 4-1, before the Trailblazers had two big innings en route to a 15-4 win in game two. It was also the inaugural softball meeting as part of the Old Hammer Rivalry between the in-state and Western Athletic Conference foes.
 
In game one, Devyn Cretz limited Dixie State (18-20, 6-5) to just a single run on four hits while striking out four. Peyton Prigge and Emery Nielson each had two hits for the Wolverines (16-21, 4-7) while Kyla Hardy had an RBI double, and Laynee Betancur also delivered an RBI.
 
All of the run scoring came in the fourth inning for both teams. The Trailblazers got back-to-back doubles in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead, but the Wolverines came back with four in the bottom of the inning.
 
An infield single from Siena Sandoval turned into a run for the Wolverines when Linnah Rebolledo, who walked to begin the inning, scored after Sandoval found herself in a rundown and the ball was thrown wide at second base. Rebolledo advanced to third when the batted ball trickled into the outfield off the glove of the lunging Meagan Anders at second. She scored during the rundown and Sandoval ended up at third after the error.
 
Rien Milliken walked to put runners at the corners before Hardy lifted a double down the line in shallow right to score pinch-runner Jaeden Barajas. Betancur drove in her run on a grounder to first, plating Brynne Hilton, who ran for Milliken, and Hardy followed her home after the throw to the plate got by the catcher.
 
Cretz (10-10) didn't surrender a hit after the fourth and retired the final eight batters she faced to seal the series-opening win.
 
In game two, Dixie State took advantage of nine walks allowed by Utah Valley. The Trailblazers scored nine runs in the third inning to take control of the contest. Five walks and an error aided Dixie State in the third. The big blow was a grand slam by Kasey Crawford.
 
Rebolledo tripled and Sandoval drove her in with a sacrifice fly in the third. Madison Carr had an RBI in the fourth that scored Hardy, who led off the inning with a base hit. Emery Nielson also delivered an RBI on a base hit into right that scored Prigge, who doubled earlier in the inning.
 
Milliken also had an RBI base hit in the fifth, but that came after Dixie State scored six more times in the top of the inning to put the game out of reach. The Trailblazers finished with 11 hits, with Hannah Hughbanks also homering and driving in three runs in the game.
 
The rubber match will be on Sunday at 11 a.m. MT and can be seen live on the WAC Digital Network.