CHICAGO – Utah Valley University fell 4-3 on a walk-off base hit by Jacob Vanitvelt in the bottom of the ninth inning at Chicago State University on Saturday in the Windy City.
 
The Wolverines (13-23, 5-9) jumped out to a 3-0 lead but saw the Cougars (6-29, 1-13) come back to tie it in the sixth before earning the win with two outs in the ninth. Cody Freund walked with one out and later stole second with two down before Vanitvelt singled up the middle to end it.
 
Trevor Peterson gave UVU a 1-0 lead with a solo home run with outs in the first. Utah Valley extended the lead to 3-0 with two more in the third. Callahan Moltzan and Paul Estrada began the inning with consecutive base hit before a throwing error allowed Trevor Howell to reach and Moltzan to score. Estrada also scored on a throwing error when Howell stole second.
 
Vanitvelt, who drove in three on the day, got the Cougars on the board with a two-out base hit in the fifth that brought two runs in. Daulton Ryans tied it in the sixth with an RBI base hit that brought home Tyler Lowe, who doubled to lead off the inning.
 
Starter Joe Fitka (1-2) went the distance for Chicago State, allowing an earned run (three total) on five hits with four strikeouts and a pair of walks. UVU starter Walker Ramsey lasted 5.1 innings and struck out five while Paxton Schultz (1-4) took the loss. Schultz also struck out five and allowed just two hits in his 3.1 innings of work.
 
The rubber match will be Sunday at noon CT/11 a.m. MT.