OREM, Utah - If anything, what Utah Valley State did in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader was somewhat fulfilling as they did what they haven't been able to do for the most of the season, come from behind. After falling behind 3-0 and then 5-2, the Wolverines put together a four run fourth followed by a five run fifth to run away with an 11-5 victory in the opening game of the twinbill against South Dakota State.
The Jackrabbits then beat the Wolverines 12-9 in the fourth and final game of the doubleheader to earn a 2-2 split during the series.
In the opener with SDSU up 3-0, Dan Bulow smacked a two-run shot to left center to cut the lead to one. And after the Jackrabbits scored two of their own in the fourth, Trent Perry started the rally in the four run fifth by blasting a two-run home run to left field. Eli Slesk and Dan Bulow then followed with back-to-back doubles and Kory Drew singled home Bulow with two outs in the inning to put Utah Valley State up 6-to-5.
In the fifth Slesk, Cory Newton, Reno Mendenhall and Kory Drew all picked up RBI singles to stretch the lead to the final score of 11-to-5.
Slesk was 3-for-4 in the game with three runs scored and an RBI, while Drew, Perry and Bulow all had two hits. Bulow drove in three on the day with Drew and Perry each adding to runs batted in.
Todd Bateman earned his 2nd win of the season as threw the final 2 1/3 innings and allowed just one hit while striking out two.
In the final game of the series, the Jacks put 17 hits on the board as they pushed six runs across the plate in the fifth inning to take a 9-6 lead. Utah Valley scored two in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit to one, but South Dakota answered with two runs of their own in the top of the sixth. Each team scored one more time as the Jackrabbits picked up and win, 12-9, and a split of the season series.
Slesk and Bulow were again the big hitters for the Wolverines. Bulow was 3-for-3 in the game, while Slesk had two hits of his own. Nick Connor also added two hits, including a bases loaded two RBI double.
The Wolverines threatened to come back in the 2nd game as they loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 8th inning. Following a strike out by Slesk, Cory Newton smacked the ball to left-centerfield on the first pitch of his at-bat but Tim Hanigan made an outstanding play at the wall as he fell down but still held on to the ball to preserve the lead for SDSU.
Nick Adams did the damage for the Jacks as he went 3-for-5 with four runs batted in. Josh Elliott pitched the final four innings for South Dakota State, allowing no earned runs on three hits and earned the save.
Up next for Utah Valley State will be a match-up with the Utah Utes on Tuesday night at 7:00pm at Parkway Crossing Stadium. The game against the Utes will be the only game next week for the Wolverines as they prepare for finals.
