ST. GEORGE, Utah — Mikaela Thomson hit a grand slam, Megan Gibbs homered for the fourth time on the weekend and Brooke Carter tossed a two-hit shutout as Utah Valley University closed the week with an 8-0, five-inning win over Winthrop. The Wolverines (5-5) finished 3-2 over the weekend at the Dixie State Tournament.

"This was a great response after how the game with Winthrop went on Saturday. A lot of key contributions from a lot of players," said UVU head coach Cody Thomson. "Hitting a grand slam while your pitcher throws a two-hit shutout will always lead to a happy bus ride home."
 
Carter, who was the winning pitcher in each of UVU's wins on the weekend, followed up Saturday's 10-strikeout performance with five strikeouts and allowed just a one-out single in the first and a two-double in the third.
 
Gibbs hit a solo shot with one out in the second inning to give Utah Valley a 1-0 lead and now has six home runs through her first 10 career games. UVU added two more in the third after Thomson's fly ball to deep right-center was dropped with runners at second and third. Thomson was credited with a sacrifice fly on the play, but the drop allowed Linnah Rebolledo to follow Madison Carr home and make it 3-0.
 
Utah Valley broke it open with a five-run fourth. Jaeden Barajas walked and later scored on Rebolledo's second base hit of the game. Kalena Shepherd walked to load the bases before Thomson — who finished with five RBIs — delivered the grand slam on an 0-2 pitch for her second home run in a UVU uniform. 
  
The Wolverines travel to Colorado this week where they'll play a doubleheader at Northern Colorado on Thursday before beginning the Colorado Classic on Friday. UVU will play five games at the classic with one each against Northern Colorado, Wisconsin and Saint Mary's, and two against Colorado State.