OREM, Utah – The Utah Valley University baseball team dropped both ends of a home-opening doubleheader to the Saint Mary's Gaels on a cold Saturday afternoon at UCCU Ballpark, 8-3 and 13-1. The Wolverines will look to salvage a game in the series finale on Sunday at noon.
SMC pounded out a total of 29 hits and 21 runs on the day to improve to 8-6 on the season with the victories, while the Wolverines -- who scored just a total of four runs on the afternoon -- dropped to 2-11 with the setbacks.
GAME ONE VS. SAINT MARY'S
The Gaels got off to a strong start in the opener with a run in the first and another in the second to take an early 2-0 lead. After a pair of one-out first-inning hits, SMC's Kevin Milam drove home the first run with an RBI single through the right side of the infield. Then in the second inning, Joe Vranesh delivered a two-out RBI double to left center to make it 2-0.
Saint Mary's then tacked on three more runs in the fourth to extend its lead to 5-0. Austin Chauvin homered in the frame and a UVU defensive miscue helped SMC tack on two more.
The Wolverines then got back-to-back two-out hits from
Paul Estrada and
Drew Sims followed by a walk by
Alexander Marco to load the bases in the last of the sixth. With a 2-2 count,
Kody Hall was then hit by the pitch to drive in Estrada and make it 5-1. With the bases still loaded, SMC starter Ken Waldichuk responded to strike out
Pacen Hayes to leave the bases full of Wolverines.
UVU then threatened again in the seventh with a two-out single from
Trevor Howell followed by a double from
Michael Beltran to right to put two runners in scoring position. With two outs in the frame, Estrada then drove a ball deep to right but SMC's Matt Green managed to get back on the track and put it away for out number three and keep it a 5-1 game.
The Wolverines again threatened by loading the bases with just one away in the bottom of the eighth, but SMC's Michael Hobbs came on in relief to retire the next two batters he faced to escape the jam unscathed.
The Gaels then tacked on three more runs insurance runs the ninth to extend their lead to 8-1.
UVU again loaded the bases in the last of the ninth and got an RBI single from Marco followed by a sacrifice fly from Hall but it wasn't enough as SMC held on to take the 8-3 victory.
Walkichuk had a strong outing for the Gaels en route to improving to 2-1 on the season. The Gael starter went 6.0 innings and struck five while allowing just one run on three hits. UVU's
Jake Carr was tagged with the loss to drop to 0-4 on the year. Reliever
Logan Petet had a strong appearance for the Wolverines by giving up just three runs in 4.1 innings of work.
Sims and Marco led UVU at the plate by each recording three hits apiece. Austin Chauvin led the Gaels with a 3-for-4 performance with an RBI, a walk and two runs scored.
GAME TWO VS. SAINT MARY'S
SMC again was the first to get on the scoreboard in the nightcap thanks to a one-out first-inning solo home run from Ryan Novis to give the Gaels a 1-0 lead.
Both starters really settled in and pitched well from there until Saint Mary's managed to tack on another run in the fourth to take a 2-0 advantage. After a pair of one-out hits, SMC's Chauvin drove home Milam from third with a fielder's choice to give the Gaels an early two-run cushion.
Saint Mary's then put up a crooked number in the top of the fifth with seven runs to extend its lead to 9-0. UVU committed three errors in the frame and Novis delivered the big blow in the inning with a grand slam to left for his second homer of the ballgame.
Jake Plecas then helped jumpstart the Wolverine offense in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff solo home run to left to make it 10-1. UVU then loaded the bases in the frame following a trio of singles, but Saint Mary's starter Carlos Lomeli battled back by striking out the next two batters he faced to escape the jam. Plecas' homer marked the first long ball of his collegiate career.
SMC then added an insurance run in the seventh and two more in the eighth to put the game away.
UVU had its chances in the twin bill, as it combined to strand a total of 21 runners on the base paths on the day.
Lomeli allowed just one run while striking out five over 6.0 solid innings of work for the Gaels to improve to 2-1 on the season, while Schultz (0-2) suffered the defeat for the Wolverines after allowing five earned runs (eight total) while striking out six over 4.2 innings.
Beltran led the Wolverines at the plate in game two with a 2-for-4 outing while Plecas went 1-for-4 with a homer. Novis paced SMC by going 4-for-5 with two home runs and five RBIs.
ON DECK FOR UVU
The Wolverines and Gaels will conclude the series with a single game on Sunday at noon at UCCU Ballpark. UVU will then continue its homestand by welcoming Niagara University to town for a two-game midweek series on Monday and Tuesday. Both games are set for a 6 p.m. MT start.
