Orem, Utah – Utah Valley University jumped out to a big early lead and got a complete game from Danny Beddes in a 12-3, series-opening win over Sacramento State on Friday night at Brent Brown Ballpark. The Wolverines (11-20) have won five straight conference games, and improved to 7-3 in league play while the Hornets (18-14) dropped to 6-4 in the WAC.

"Our guys deserve credit for coming ready to go tonight. They worked really hard this week and carried it into the game," said UVU head coach Eric Madsen. "Sac State's a great club. They have an excellent pitching staff and were picked to win the conference for a reason. We have to come out tomorrow with the same approach and intensity because we know they'll be ready to go."

Beddes, who struck out six, scuffled with the strike zone in the fourth when he walked the bases loaded before limiting the damage to just one run. He allowed three runs total in the team's first complete-game win of the season. He got stronger as the game progressed, allowing just two baserunners over the final four innings. The win moves him to 4-4 on the year and is his third straight against WAC opponents.

With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the second, Jordan Schlehuber started a two-out rally with a single to left field. An RBI double by Palmer Page and RBI singles by Kade Andrus, Mark Krueger, and Spencer Gothberg made it 6-1 after two innings and chased Sac State starter Brennan Leitao, the preseason WAC Pitcher of the Year, from the game.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Wolverines tacked on three more runs on a Schlehuber double off the wall in left and a two-run home run from Andrus to left center, his third of the year, to make it 9-1. UVU tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run double by Craig Brinkerhoff to push the lead to 11-2.

Eight different Wolverines had hits with six players having multi-hit nights including Jake Atkinson, who doubled three times. Seven of Utah Valley's 12 hits went for extra bases.

Chris Lewis had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Hornets and had a solo home run in the fifth. Leitao (3-3) took the loss with a final line of six runs (five earned) on seven hits and a pair of strikeouts in two innings.

Game two of the three-game series will be Saturday night at 6 p.m. MT.