OREM, Utah – Tarleton State (12-18) (0-3 WAC) dropped their third straight WAC contest Saturday to Utah Valley (9-13) (3-0 WAC) in Orem at the Wolverine Softball Complex.
 
The Texans came out swinging in the first going up 4-0.
 
Katy Schaefer got Tarleton State on the board with a double down the right field line that scored Kelci Hill and Tristyn Trull making it 2-0 Texans. Kelci Hill reached on a fielding error by the first baseman while Trull reached on a single through the right side.
 
Kalyn Hill singled to the shortstop and advanced to second on the throw as Schaefer came in to score the Purple and White's third run of the game. Brady Rowland then singled to third base scoring Austin Germain who reached base on a walk making it 4-0 Texans.
 
In the bottom half of the first Utah Valley put up a five-spot taking the lead 5-4. Angeique Mann doubled to right center scoring the Wolverines first run of the game. Megan Gibbs then hit a grand slam putting UVU up 5-4 at the end of the first.
 
The next two and a half innings went scoreless before Utah Valley tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth. Two Wolverines scored off the bat of Amber Rodriquez making it a 7-4 lead after four.
 
In the bottom of the fifth Utah Valley once again put up a two-spot this time off the bat of Gibbs as she once again went yard putting the Wolverines up 9-4 at the end of five. This marked the final scoring for either team.
 
For Tarleton State, redshirt freshman Kendall Daniel (2-3) got the start in the circle for the finale as she took the loss going just 0.2 innings giving up five runs on three hits and walked one. Junior transfer Kynlee Marquez took over from Daniel and went the bulk of the game for the Texans going 3.1 innings. She gave up four runs (three earned) on seven hits, striking out a pair and walking two as well. Junior transfer Alexa Rehmeier went the final 1.2 innings and gave up no runs on one hit.
 
For Utah Valley, Payge Armendariz (1-1) went the distance for the Wolverines going 7.0 innings giving up four runs (two earned) on seven hits, struck out six and walked one.
 
The Texans will be back in Stephenville  next Friday-Saturday as Tarleton State will start their five game homestand hosting UT Arlington for a three-game weekend series before hosting ACU for a mid-week doubleheader on March 26.