SEATTLE, Wash. – The 2024 University Credit Union WAC Softball Tournament saw an action-packed first day as all four games were decided by one run on Wednesday at Logan Field. No. 3 Utah Valley and No. 4 Seattle U advance to the winners’ bracket on the opening day. No. 4 Seattle U downed No. 8 Southern Utah 4-3 after No. 6 UT Arlington defeated No. 7 Tarleton State 2-1 in the first game of the tournament.  

Joining Seattle U in the winner’s bracket was No. 3 Utah Valley, who bested No. 6 UT Arlington 2-1 in extra innings. No. 8 Southern Utah knocked off No. 5 Utah Tech 7-6 earlier in the day to play on to the double-elimination round.

The second day of play at the 2024 University Credit Union WAC Softball Tournament will begin at 10 a.m. PT on Thursday with No. 2 California Baptist taking on No. 3 Utah Valley. No. 1 seed Grand Canyon and No. 4 Seattle U will meet at 1 p.m. PT to determine who advances on in the winners’ bracket.

Game 1 – No. 6 UT Arlington 2, No. 7 Tarleton State 1 | Box Score
Tarleton State came out to an early 1-0 lead at the top of the first inning as Kalyn Hill logged an RBI that made Kayla Wallace come across to score. UT Arlington would respond in the bottom of the fifth inning as Morgan Westbrook ripped a double to right field to tie the game.

UT Arlington’s pitcher Jessica Adams proved why she was selected as the designated hitter as she logged the go-ahead double that would put the Mavericks up 2-1 at the bottom of the sixth inning. Gracie Bumpurs earned the win for UTA, allowing a lone earned run and two strikeouts in 6.1 innings. Abi Gutierrez earned the save as she had no walks and one strikeout while the bases were fully loaded for Tarleton State at the top of the seventh inning.

Hill was one of five Texans with a base hit on the day. Hannah Blincoe pitched five innings for Tarleton State, allowing four hits and one earned run with two strikeouts.

Game 2 – No. 8 Southern Utah 7, No. 5 Utah Tech 6 | Box Score
Southern Utah pulled off the 7-6 upset win over No. 5 Utah Tech in its first ever WAC Tournament appearance. Emily Gonzalez bombed a first pitch home run, her fourth this season to give the Thunderbirds an early 1-0 edge. In the top of the fourth, a Gonzalez walk led Miranda Lopez to score. Ariyana Miranda drove in two-runs with a single through the left side to leap in front 4-1.

Southern Utah would score three more runs at the top of the seventh, the last coming from a walk of Shelby Basso sending Karmyna Becerra through home plate. Freshman Emily Delgado pitched a complete game with no walks and seven strikeouts.

Carly Eldredge and Laura Lockard led Utah Tech with three hits each, with Marisa Rubio earning two RBIs from a single to left field at the bottom of the sixth.

Game 3 – No. 3 Utah Valley 2, No. 6 UT Arlington 1 (8 Innings) | Box Score
An RBI single for Utah Valley in the bottom of the third carried a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning. UT Arlington’s Marley Neises logged her seventh home run of the season to right center field which would send the game into extra innings. Utah Valley earned the walk off win as Payge Armendariz singled to right center sending Megan Gibbs to score. Avery Sapp went the distance in the defeat for UVU, walking one with three strikeouts.

Neises and Valerie Ornelas led UTA with two hits each in the loss.
 
Game 4 – No.3 Seattle U 4, No. 8 Southern Utah 3 | Box Score
Seattle U battled back from a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the fourth inning with two runs to square the score. SU leapt in front 4-2 at the bottom of the sixth as a Lily Garcia double and Katie Walling single led to two more runs.
 
Stephanie Madrigal pitched a complete game, allowing eight hits with two strikeouts on 97 pitches.

Ariyana Miranda turned in a 2-for-3 day at the plate with an RBI for SUU in the loss, while Emily Gonzalez added two hits for the Thunderbirds.