STEPHENVILLE, Texas – No. 4 Utah Valley and No. 6 Utah Tech kicked off the 2026 University Credit Union WAC Softball Tournament on Wednesday with victories in the first round to advance to Thursday’s winner’s bracket games. The Wolverines edged out No. 5 Southern Utah in a tight 3-2 victory, and the Trailblazers defeated No. 3 UT Arlington 7-4.

Utah Valley will take on No. 1 California Baptist tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT, and Utah Tech will square off with No. 2 Tarleton State at 1 p.m. CT. Southern Utah and UT Arlington will face elimination as the Mavericks await the loser of UVU and CBU at 4 p.m. CT and the Thunderbirds will face the loser of TSU and UTU at 7 p.m. CT.

Game 1 – No. 4 Utah Valley 3, No. 5 Southern Utah 2 | Box Score

Bailey Marvin got the big hit the Wolverines were looking for as a pinch hitter in the fourth inning, driving in two runs with a single to left field to put Utah Valley out front 2-1. Britney Moreno provided the winning RBI for the Wolverines with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning. Lily Riley tossed a complete game for UVU as she notched her 16^th win of the season, allowing just two earned runs and picking up four strikeouts.  

Southern Utah’s Michelle De La Cruz hit her fourth home run of the season in the top of the sixth evening the score for the Thunderbirds at the time. Michaella Salvatierra and Savannah Lira both recorded a pair of hits for Southern Utah.

Game 2 – No. 6 Utah Tech 7, No. 3 UT Arlington 4 | Box Score
 
The Trailblazers survived a late charge from UT Arlington following a 4-for-4 day at the plate from the WAC Player of the Year, Kinley Pappas. Pappas was responsible for three RBIs and three runs scored which included a two-run home run in the third inning, her 12^th on the season. Pappas also posted an RBI single in part of a four-run fourth inning for Utah Tech. Sauren Garton got the win in the pitching circle, going five innings deep and surrendering just two earned runs.
 
Three different Mavericks were responsible for two-thirds of UT Arlington’s nine hits on the night as Peyton Holland, Kaitlyn Sailor and Kaylee Schweitzer each registered two hits. Mia McNulty provided a timely base hit in the sixth inning, as she singled up the middle with the bases loaded to score a pair of runs and bring the deficit to three.