OREM, Utah – Utah Valley rallied for two runs in the eighth but it wasn't enough, as Chicago State managed to hold on to top UVU, 7-6, in game two of the weekend series on Saturday afternoon at UCCU Ballpark.
 
With the series now evened up at one game apiece, both UVU (8-26, 5-6 WAC) and CSU (9-22, 4-7 WAC) will look to take the league series on Sunday. 
 
"I felt like we let some chances slip away in this one. Chicago State did a nice job against Paxton (Schultz) offensively so now we have to come out tomorrow and find a way to take the series," head UVU coach Eric Madsen said. "I think our guys know how important this series is so we need to be ready to go and come out firing on all cylinders." 
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Cougars were the first to break through with two runs in the top of the second to jump out to a 2-0 advantage. Tyler Lowe started the scoring with a solo homer to left and CSU later followed with a two-out RBI hit from Patrick Arndt to make it 2-0. 
 
The Wolverines didn't waste any time answering back, however, as they put up three runs of their own to take a 3-2 advantage. Following a walk by Alexander Marco and a single from Mick Madsen, Drew Sims drove them both home with a two-run double to right center to tie the game at 2-2. With two outs and Sims leading from second, Trevor Howell then delivered an RBI single to right to plate Sims and give the Wolverines the lead. 
 
Still 3-2 in the fifth, the Cougars then added a pair of unearned runs to take a 4-3 lead. UVU quickly responded with a solo home run from the senior shortstop Howell to deadlock the score at 4-4. The big fly from Howell cleared the fence in left to mark his first round tripper of the season.
 
Chicago State then added two more runs off of four hits in the sixth to regain a 6-4 advantage. Lowe and Gabriel Coburn both drove home runs in the frame to give the Cougars the lead. CSU then tacked on a run in the seventh on a two-out RBI double from Daulton Ryans to make it 7-4. 
 
After a walk by pinch-hitter Jake Berry followed by a double from Howell put runners on second and third with just one out in the eighth, UVU then caught a break as both runners came home on a throwing error by CSU reliever Yunis Halim to make it a one-run game at 7-6. Halim then responded, however, to strike out the next two batters he faced in the frame to send it to the ninth.
 
In the last of the ninth, UVU got a two-out hit from Pacen Hayes to put the tying runner on first base. But CSU's Halim responded to get Sims to pop-out in foul territory on right side to end the ballgame. 
 
UVU senior Paxton Schultz (1-4) struck out five over 7.0 innings but was tagged with the loss after giving up five earned runs on the afternoon. Cole Yocum then came on and pitched a pair of scoreless innings of relief on the afternoon for the Wolverines. Brett Gregory (2-5) earned the win for CSU while his teammate Halim earned his third save of the year after giving up just a pair of unearned runs over the final three innings. 
 
Howell had another nice game for the Wolverines offensively as of late by going a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. He finished just a triple shy of the cycle in the ballgame and over his last three games he is an impressive 11-for-12 with six extra-base hits, six runs scored and seven RBIs. Sims was next for UVU in the game by going 1-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Lowe and Arndt paced the Cougars by each going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in apiece. 
 
The Wolverines and Cougars will conclude the weekend series on Sunday morning at UCCU Ballpark. Sunday's finale has been moved up to a 10 a.m. MT start to accommodate CSU's flight out of town.