OREM, Utah—The Utah Valley University baseball team fell behind early and couldn't recover in a 9-1 loss to WAC foe Sacramento State in the front end of a double header on Friday afternoon at Brent Brown Ballpark.
 
The Wolverines (8-16, 3-1) tallied 11 hits but left 11 runners stranded on the bases, while Sacramento State (13-11, 1-3) registered 16 hits with eight left on base.
 
Sacramento State scored a run in the top of the first and two more in the top of the second inning while holding the Wolverines scoreless through four innings to take a 3-0 lead after four innings of play.
 
Sacramento State left fielder Andrew McWilliam opened the top of the fifth with a solo home run to left center, sparking a four-run inning for the Hornets. Kody Reynolds and Vinny Esposito also crossed the plate after Trent Goodrich sent a single through the right side of the field. Goodrich then scored on a Michael Birch double to left center to give the Hornets a 7-0 lead.
 
Utah Valley got a run back in the bottom of the fifth after Paul Estrada doubled down the left field line before scoring on a Trevor Peterson single to center to cut the Sacramento State lead to a 7-1 advantage after five innings of play.
 
The Hornets added two runs in the top of the eighth inning after McWilliam homered to left center, scoring Ian Dawkins who had tripled to right. The two-run shot extended Sacramento State's lead to a 9-1 advantage.
 
Peterson led the Wolverines at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RPI and a walk. David Modler was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate. Jackson Overlund also connected on a pair of hits while Estrada went 1-for-2 and crossed the plate for UVU's lone run of the game.
 
Justin Dillon picked up the win on the mound for the Hornets, improving to 3-2 on the year. Jackson Cofer took the loss for UVU and now holds a 1-3 record.
 
Utah Valley continues play at Brent Brown Ballpark with the nightcap set to begin at 4:15 p.m (MT).