LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Zac Willis and Greyson Bogden hit back-to-back home runs as Utah Valley University defeated New Mexico State, 6-1, to notch a big series win on Sunday at Presley Askew Field.
 
Kyle Valgardson notched his fifth save and his second in as many days after pitching 4.0 scoreless innings while striking out three. Jackson Cofer (3-3) got the win after going 5.0 innings and allowing one run on six hits with a pair of strikeouts.
 
"This was a big series win against a great team that is playing with a lot of confidence," said UVU head coach Eric Madsen. "We got a very good start from Jackson and Kyle was lights out down the stretch. It was good to see the guys come through when we had opportunities to score and add on to the lead. Now we have to use this momentum next weekend against an excellent Seattle U team."
 
The Wolverines moved to 20-16 overall and 7-5 in WAC play while the Aggies dropped to 21-14 overall and 9-3 in conference after entering the weekend in a tie for first.
 
The game was scoreless until the top of the third when Willis lined a ball over the wall in left and Bogden followed him with a solo shot to left center. It was the fourth home run of the season for both -- tying them for the team lead -- and the first time Utah Valley had back-to-back home runs since the 2010 season.
 
The Aggies scored their lone run in the bottom of the third on a two-out base hit by Dan Hetzel to make it 2-1.
 
Trevor Howell led off the fifth with a base hit and scored with two outs when Mark Krueger extended his hit streak to 19 games with an RBI double to left center. UVU scored two more in the sixth on a two-out, two-run double from Jordan Schlehuber that brought home Craig Brinkerhoff and Justin Erlandson to make it a 5-1 game.
 
The Wolverines' final run of the night came after Willis singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, then came in to score on an RBI single by Bogden in the ninth.
 
Willis finished 3-for-5, notching three-hit days in each of UVU's wins in the series. Bogden had two hits and two RBIs while Brinkerhoff and Howell also had a pair of hits each.
 
Valgardson came on to start the sixth in relief of Cofer and after allowing a pair of one-out base hits, got a double play to end the inning before retiring the next nine hitters in a row to secure the win.
 
UVU will play Utah for the final time this season on Tuesday at 6 p.m. MT in Salt Lake City. The Wolverines then host WAC co-leader Seattle U in a three-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m. MT.