OREM, Utah – Jake Carr allowed just two runs while striking out five and Mason Gray followed with four shutout innings of relief en route to leading Utah Valley to a 6-2 victory over Sacramento State in the series opener on Friday night at UCCU Ballpark. 
 
The Wolverine senior Carr surrendered just four hits and walked just one batter over 5.0 solid innings of work to earn his fourth victory of the season in the final home start of his collegiate career. The freshman Gray then followed with four shutout innings of relief to earn his first career save, as UVU limited the Hornets offense to just two runs on seven hits on the day.
 
Utah Valley improves to 12-35 overall and 8-14 in WAC play to move a game ahead of Seattle U for sixth place in the conference standings, while Sac State drops to 30-19 and 15-7 in league play to fall out of first place with the setback.
 
"I really tried to get out there and pound the zone and it was great to see the support of my friends and family in the stands. I knew that we needed a couple of big wins this weekend to help our team get to the WAC Tournament so I went out there and tried to do my part," senior right-handed pitcher Carr said. "Tonight really shows just what we are capable of. When we come out ready to play, we can compete against anybody."
 
After quickly loading the bases with one away in the bottom of the first, the Wolverines took a 2-0 advantage as Mick Madsen plated Michael Beltran with an RBI fielder's choice and Ryan Eastburn also came home on the play on a Hornet throwing error. Beltran and Eastburn started the first-inning rally with back-to-back singles.
 
With two outs and nobody on in 2-1 game in the last of the fourth, UVU managed to piece together a clutch two-out rally to extend its lead to 5-1. Pacen Hayes started the rally with a bloop-single to left and Kade Poulsen promptly followed with a double to right to put a pair of runners into scoring position. Kody Hall then drove them both home with a two-run triple into the right field corner to make it 4-1. Trevor Howell then delivered UVU's fourth consecutive hit of the frame with an RBI double to right-center to extend the advantage to 5-1. 
 
Both sides then added a run apiece in the fifth to make it 6-2. After a leadoff homer from Aaron Zeidman in the top of the frame, the Wolverines answered with a sacrifice fly from Drew Sims in the bottom of the inning to again give UVU a four-run cushion. 
 
In the late innings, the UVU freshman Gray came on and allowed just three hits while striking out three over 4.0 impressive innings of work to earn the save. The Hornets had their best chance to score in the ninth by getting two on with nobody out, but Gray responded by drawing a pair of flyouts and a groundout to end the late threat and the ballgame. 
 
The senior Eastburn led UVU offensively in the game by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a double, while fellow senior Howell went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run batted in. Howell, Madsen, Sims and Hall all drove in runs on the night for the Wolverines. Matt Smith led the Hornets at the plate by going 3-for-4 with an RBI. 
 
"I was really pleased with how we played tonight. Jake and Mason both did a great job for us and really gave us an opportunity to win this game," head UVU coach Eric Madsen said. "Overall I was happy with the whole team's effort. The played really well together and our offense delivered when we needed the big hits."
 
Sacramento State's Austin Roberts (4-4) took the loss on the mound after allowing five earned runs (six total) on nine hits over 5.0 innings of work. 
 
The Wolverines and Hornets will continue the weekend series on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT at UCCU Ballpark. The contest will mark Senior Day for UVU, as the Wolverines will honor their nine seniors prior to the ballgame. The Senior Day festivities will begin at approximately 1:40 p.m. MT. The series will then conclude on Sunday at noon MT. 
 
"We just need to continue to find a way to get wins," Madsen added. "Senior Day is always one of those great days where we get to celebrate our wonderful senior class. I hope that we have a great turnout to truly honor our seniors on Saturday."