OREM, Utah – The University of Portland spoiled Utah Valley University's home opener, winning 10-3 on Thursday at Brent Brown Ballpark. A seven-run second inning gave the Pilots (9-4) a big early advantage en route to the series-opening win.
 
"We need to find a way to come out and play good baseball. It's disheartening that this is the way that we performed in our home opener. I don't think this is who we are," head coach Eric Madsen said. "We've showed some signs of immaturity so far this season. We have to find a way to play with more consistency and have more desire to do the things that we need to do to be successful."
 
UVU (7-8) struck first in the contest, pushing home an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Following a UP error, Craig Brinkerhoff drove home Zac Willis with a single up the middle for the run.
 
In the decisive second inning, the Pilots took advantage of a pair of Wolverine errors scoring four unearned runs in the frame. Matt Kelly had an RBI single to tie the game before Jason Rosen doubled home two runs. Caleb Whalen had a sacrifice fly and Cooper Hummel singled home another run to make it 6-1. Ryan Barr tripled home Hummel for the seventh run.
 
The Wolverines got a run in the eighth before Portland scored three more in the ninth. Hummel had a solo home run in the inning. Utah Valley scored its third run in the ninth on a wild pitch, bringing home Paul Estrada from third to cap the scoring in the ballgame.
 
Brinkerhoff and Mark Krueger had two hits each to lead UVU. Hummel went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Jordan Wilcox improved to 3-0, earning the win after seven innings and giving up only one unearned run on four hits while striking out six. Jackson Cofer (1-3) took the loss for Utah Valley while Logan Hold shined in relief, throwing 5.1 innings of scoreless baseball.
 
The series will continue on Friday at 6 p.m. MT in game two of the four-game weekend series. Game three is then set for Saturday at 6 p.m., while Sunday's finale will begin at noon.