The host Utes (13-21) had a chance to set the tone when Alyssa Barrera singled between walks to Julia Noskin and Makayla Hurst to load the bases. Instead, UVU’s Devyn Cretz capped the inning by striking out the side to keep the game scoreless.
The Utes broke through in the third as Barrera singled with two outs and Hurst drove her in with a single to right. Utah’s junior center fielder was off with the crack of the bat and able to beat the throw home.
Utah pitcher Sydney Sandez ran into trouble in the fourth. Utah Valley (11-17) answered Utah’s run with Linnah Rebolledo RBI to tie the game, 1-1.