SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Danny Beddes allowed just two hits over eight shutout innings as Utah Valley University evened its series at Sacramento State with a 5-0 win on Saturday at John Smith Field.
 
Beddes took a no-hitter in the seventh before Matt Smith led off with a grounder up the middle that Trevor Howell fought to get out of his glove. Smith beat out the attempted play and it was ruled the Hornets' first hit of the game.
 
"It was just a great outing. I think that first ruling could have gone as an error and that was unfortunate for him. If our defense makes the plays behind him he has a perfect game to that point," said UVU head coach Eric Madsen. "Really can't say enough about how well he pitched today; just what we needed on a swing day."
 
Beddes (6-3) was perfect through 4.2 innings, retiring the first 14 hitters of the game before a two-out error gave Sac State (26-20, 13-7) its first base runner.
 
The Wolverines (27-19, 12-8) got on the board in the sixth – with four runs – the first time in 14 innings UVU scored in the series.
 
Trevor Howell and Zac Willis singled on back-to-back pitches and two hitters later Mark Krueger singled home the first run of the game. A throwing error by Sac State starter Sam Long on a comebacker allowed Willis to score from second and Krueger later came in on a wild pitch. The fourth run of the inning came when Spencer Gothberg doubled home Craig Brinkerhoff.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, after Smith reached on the infield single, Chris Lewis followed with the first clean hit of the game – to center – before Andrew McWilliam was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Beddes got Vinny Esposito to ground to Jordan Schlehuber at third, starting a 5-2-3 double play to keep the shutout intact. After a walk, Gunner Pollman flew out to deep center to end the threat.

Paul Estrada delivered a two-out RBI single to drive in Greyson Bogden in the eighth inning for the final 5-0 tally.
 
Beddes retired the side in order in the eight and, after 116 pitches, was lifted for Kyle Valgardson. Valgardson erased a lead-off single by inducing a 6-4-3 double play before McWilliam flew out to end the game.

The win was Beddes' 17th of his career, tying him for second on the school's all-time list. It's also his second win in as many starts at Sacramento State. Beddes pitched a four-hit shutout in 2014 and overall has pitched 17.0 scoreless innings and allowed just six hits in his two career starts at John Smith Field.

"These guys (Sac State) are always really good and every time I've pitched here it's been a big game and that's when I think I compete best and bring my best stuff," Beddes said.
 
The shutout was Utah Valley's second of the season with both coming in Beddes starts. Three pitchers combined on a shutout at Washington State on March 3.
 
The rubber match is slated for Sunday at noon PT/1 p.m. MT. A win would tie Utah Valley with Sac State for third place in the WAC standings with two weekends to go.