NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Utah Valley University dropped the second of two games on Friday, falling 4-2 to Cal State Northridge at Matador Field. The Wolverines were edged 3-2 earlier in the day against Gonzaga in the season opener for both teams.

Against the host Matadors, Mark Krueger had a pair of hits including an RBI triple. He led off the ninth with a base hit but was stranded at second to end the game with two on and the potential go-ahead run at the plate.

CSUN (1-0) scored once in the second before a pair of solo home runs in the fifth extended the lead to 3-0. The Wolverines (0-2) broke through in the fifth when Krueger tripled to right, scoring Seth Rhineer from first. Krueger then came in on a wild pitch to make it a 3-2 game.
 
Cal State Northridge added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when Justin Toerner singled, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and later scored on a groundout.

Freshman Jackson Cofer made the start for Utah Valley and went 4.0 innings and struck out a pair of hitters. He took the loss despite just one unearned run coming in against him.

Calvin Copping earned the win for CSUN, striking out nine in 6.0 innings on the mound. Conner O'Neil sidestepped minor trouble in the ninth to pick up the save in the Matadors' season opener.

Over the course of Friday's doubleheader for Utah Valley, freshman Tate Harding had a noteworthy start to his collegiate career. Harding was 3-for-4 with a home run against Gonzaga and went 2-for-4 against CSUN. Another freshman, Jake Atkinson, also homered in the first game against the Bulldogs.

The Wolverines will again face Cal State Northridge on Saturday at 3 p.m. MT/2 p.m. PT before wrapping up the weekend on Sunday against Gonzaga at 11 a.m. MT.