BELLEVUE, Wash. – Jake Atkinson hit a go-ahead, seventh-inning home run in Utah Valley University's 5-2 win over Seattle University on Saturday at Bannerwood Park. The win evened the three-game WAC series with Sunday's finale at 11 a.m. PT/12 p.m. MT, which has been moved up one hour due to an expected afternoon storm.
 
Atkinson, who last week was named to the Johnny Bench Award watch list, hit a 3-2 pitch off of Skyler Genger into the corner in left to give UVU a 3-2 lead. Atkinson also hit a game-tying single in the ninth inning of Friday's series opener, an eventual 9-8 Seattle U win in 13 innings.

"Jake showed that he can step up in big situations on Friday and the home run today was huge," said head coach Eric Madsen. "It really energized us and was something we needed. To have a chance to win the series tomorrow is important to us."

The Wolverines (5-17, 1-1) added two insurance runs in the eighth. Kade Andrus doubled for the second time on the day and, after moving to third on a balk, came in when Jordan Schlehuber singled up the middle to give UVU a 4-2 advantage. Two batters later, Tate Harding singled home Schlehuber.

In the bottom of the eighth, a walk and a swinging bunt hit allowed the Redhawks (8-14, 1-1) to bring the potential tying run to the plate. That threat ended when Griffin Andreychuk lined into an inning-ending double play to Spencer Gothberg at first, who doubled up Brock Carpenter at second. 

Jake Mayer (1-3) picked up his first collegiate win, throwing 3.1 innings in relief of Jackson Cofer, who lasted 5.0 innings and allowed one run on five hits. Eric Olguin came in with two on and one out in the ninth and finished they game on a called strike three to Colin Peterson. Genger (2-4) took the loss after allowing five runs on six hits in 7.1 innings while striking out 10.

Seth Rhineer made a key diving catch with a man on and nobody out in the ninth, robbing Sheldon Stober of extra bases with a diving play in right-center.

Andrus, who was 2-for-3 with two doubles an RBI and two runs scored, was part of both early runs that gave UVU a 2-0 lead after the top of the third. He walked, stole second and scored in the top of the first and in the third doubled home Greyson Bogden.

A two-out seeing-eye single off the bat of Brian Olson snuck through the right side of the infield and got Seattle U on the board in the bottom of the third. The Redhawks tied it in the sixth with another two-out RBI on an Andreychuk single.

Both teams finished with eight hits with seven different UVU players collecting at least one hit.