SEATTLE – The UT Arlington softball team split the opening day of the WAC Tournament after advancing to double elimination with a 2-1 victory over Tarleton on Wednesday, May 8 from Logan Field.
 
Following UTA's comeback victory over the Texans, the Mavericks and Wolverines of Utah Valley went into extra innings for the third time this season. The Mavericks warranted extras after a solo shot by Marley Neises tied things up for UTA in the top of the seventh inning. The contest ended in UVU's favor, pushing the Mavs to the loser's bracket.
 
In double elimination, the Mavericks will face the winner of #1 Grand Canyon and either #4 Seattle U or #8 Southern Utah on Thursday, May 9 at 7 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. CT.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: vs. #7 Tarleton (W, 2-1)
The Mavericks were led by fifth year Camille Corona who went on to collect her 19th multi-hit game of the season as she was responsible for UTA's first hit of the game – a single to left field – before reaching with a bunt single.
 
Morgan Westbrook knocked in the tying run in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI-double down the right field that scored Zaia Castruita from second – who reached off a single up the middle.
 
It came down to junior Jessica Adams' RBI-double down the left field line that plated the winning run for the Mavs. That hit was the two-way players' 29th of the season and 16th RBI.
 
Senior right-handed pitcher Gracie Bumpurs earned her 15th start in the circle for the Mavericks this season as she went on to pitch 6.1 innings of work, coming away with a pair of strike outs. Over her time on the field, the Texas native limited the Texans to just five hits and one earned run.
 
Freshman Abi Gutierrez entered the game with one out in the top of the seventh and retired the next two batters with a strike out and a line drive to right field to end the game. With the win, Bumpurs holds four wins on the year and Gutierrez with her save of her career.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: vs. #3 Utah Valley (L, 2-1) 8 Innings
The Mavs totaled six hits against the Wolverines – 11 on the day – as Valerie Ornelas led the way with a 2-3 performance at the plate which marked her second multi-hit game of the season.
 
In the top of the seventh, sophomore Marley Neises tied things up 1-1 for UTA with a solo home run to right field – her seventh of the season. That marked the outfielder's 42nd hit and 26th RBI of the year. Now, Neises sits on an overall average of .263.
 
Joining Ornelas and Neises was Nicole Hill (1-3) and Castruita (1-3) who both knocked one hit apiece.
 
Fifth year Emilie Hoelscher got the start in the circle for UTA and went on to throw a little over two innings, allowing one earned run off three hits. Junior Adams came in for the Mavericks in the bottom of the third and tossed the remainder of the game. The righty gave up six hits and came away with one strike out. With Utah Valley's win, Adams was handed the loss.

BRACKET BREAKDOWN

-- #BuckEm --

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