MESA, Ariz.—The Utah Valley University baseball team wrapped up its 2015 season with a 9-3 setback to Sacramento State in the loser's bracket of the WAC Tournament at Hohokam Stadium. The Wolverines conclude play at the tournament with a 1-2 record.
 
Trailing 6-0, Utah Valley (19-35) battled back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the lead in half but couldn't get any closer as the Hornets added three more runs over the final four innings to secure the 9-3 victory.
 
"I felt like we let them determine things, especially offensively where we weren't able to get anything going," said Utah Valley head coach Eric Madsen. "We had a big opportunity with the bases loaded and nobody out and to get only three was disappointing. Give Sac State credit. They're a good team and they played well today."
 
Jordan Schlehuber and Zac Fuller each recorded a pair of hits on the day.  Kaden Schmitt pitched 4.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts while allowing five hits and five runs. Kyle Valdarson went 2.1 innings with one strikeout while giving up just one run and two hits.  
 
Sacramento State (32-26) was first to get on the scoreboard as Chris Lewis hit a two-run shot over the left field wall in the second inning to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead. Sacramento State then added two more in the fourth when Dan Deely doubled down the left field line to score Dane Fujinaka and Lewis.
 
The Hornets continued to score runs in the top of the fifth inning as Vinny Esposito hit a two-run homer to left field to give Sacramento State a 6-0 advantage.
 
UVU opened the fifth inning with three singles to load the bases. Seth Rhineer then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Greyson Bogden. Mark Krueger then hit a sacrifice fly to send Palmer Page across the plate. Craig Brinkerhoff wrapped up scoring in the fifth with a single to right field, scoring Jordan Schlehuber to cut the Hornet lead to a 6-3 advantage.
 
Sacramento State put up two more runs in the top of the sixth inning as Deely and Nathan Lukes each crossed the plate on wild pitches to put the Hornets up 8-3. The Hornets added their final run in the top of the eighth as Lukes doubled to score Deely.
 
Jake Stassi picked up the win on the mound for the Hornets after going 5.0 innings with four strikeouts while giving up just six hits and three runs.
 
With the win, Sacramento State advances in the loser's bracket to take on North Dakota today at 4 p.m. MT.