MESA, Ariz.—Craig Brinkerhoff hit a solo home run and knocked in a pair of runs to lead the Utah Valley University baseball team to a 10-inning 3-2 win over Sacramento State in the first round of the WAC Tournament at Hohokam Stadium.
 
Tied 2-2 in the top of the 10th inning, Seth Rhineer doubled down the left field line and then scored what would prove to be the game-winning run on a Brinkerhoff single to second base. Kyle Valgardson then retired the side in order to secure the Wolverine win. 
 
Brinkerhoff, who was named to last year's WAC all-tournament team, went 3-for-5 at the plate with a home run and three RBIs. Mark Krueger went 2-for-4 with one run and a walk.
 
Jackson Cofer gave up only three hits in a career-long 7.1 innings of work. Cofer gave up just the one run and tallied three strikeouts. Valgardson earned his third win of the season as he pitched the final two innings with two strikeouts while giving up only two hits.
 
"Our guys just didn't ever quit," said Utah Valley head coach Eric Madsen. "They played hard the entire game. Jackson (Cofer) did a great job. It was awesome to see him compete the way he did. I'm proud of the way our guys battled. They did what they had to do today to get a win and move on in this tournament."
 
Brinkerhoff got Utah Valley (20-32) on the scoreboard early with a solo shot over the left field wall in the first inning to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead. The home run marks Brinkerhoff's second home run of the season.
 
Sacramento State evened the score in the bottom of the third inning after Nathan Lukes doubled down the right field line to score Gunner Pollman to make it 1-1.
 
Freshman Jake Marvos extended his hitting streak to seven games as he led off the top of the eighth inning with a stand up double down the left field line. Perkins pinch ran for Marvos and advanced to third on sacrifice bunt by Jordan Schlehuber. UVU was then unable to put the go-ahead run across the plate as the Wolverines left Perkins stranded on third.
 
In the top of the ninth inning, Krueger singled to second base and then advanced to second on a throwing error by the second baseman. Krueger then advanced to third on a Sam Long balk. Brinkerhoff then hit a bloop single to center field, sending Krueger across the plate to give the Wolverines the 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth.
 
The Hornets responded with a run in the bottom of the ninth as Vinny Esposito scored on a Dan Deely fielders choice to tie the game 2-2. Utah Valley's Boyd Bell, who replaced Cofer on the mound in the eighth inning, recorded a strikeout and forced a fly ball to escape the inning with two Hornet runners stranded on base.
 
The Wolverines took back the lead in the top of the 10th inning as Seth Rhineer doubled down the left field line and then scored on a Brinkerhoff single to second base. Utah Valley's Kyle Valgardson then retired the first three batters in the bottom half of the inning to secure the Wolverine win.
 
Utah Valley moves on to face top-seeded Seattle U on Thursday night at 7 p.m. PT. Danny Beddes will get the start on the mound Thursday night for the Wolverines.