OREM, Utah – Utah Valley scored a run in the eighth and had the tying runner on base in the ninth but couldn't record the comeback on Senior Day, as Sacramento State went on to take game two on Saturday afternoon, 5-4, and even the WAC weekend series at one game apiece.
With UVU holding to a 3-0 lead entering the sixth inning behind a 10-strikeout gem from
Paxton Schultz, the Hornet offense managed to put up five runs in the frame thanks in large part from a go-ahead grand slam from Dawsen Bacho to put Sac State up for good.
The Wolverines drop to 12-36 overall and 8-15 in WAC play with just four conference games remaining with the setback, while the Hornets improve to 31-19 and 16-7 in league play with the victory.
"Paxton really threw great for us today. That one inning was unfortunate, however, where they managed to get that home run right down the line. But overall I was pleased with how he and
Jesse Schmit both threw for us," head UVU coach
Eric Madsen said. "The team is going out there and competing right now and I'm really proud of that. The guys did a nice job of battling right until the end and now we'll have to come out and find a way to get it done on Sunday."
Prior to the game, UVU honored its nine seniors as part of the Senior Day celebration.
"This is a wonderful senior class. I'm so appreciative of
David Carter and (former assistant) Derek Amicone for recruiting them. They are just great kids," Madsen added. "They have all played well for us and quite frankly deserve better. I'm just so grateful for what they've brought to the program and that we were able to come out and celebrate the nine of them before the game."
After a leadoff first-inning single from senior
Trevor Howell,
Mick Madsen later drove him home with a two-out RBI single to center to give the Wolverines an early 1-0 lead. UVU then made it 2-0 in the second, as senior
Paul Estrada reached on a fielder's choice in the inning and later came in to score on a wild pitch to extend Utah Valley's lead to 2-0.
On the mound, the right-hander Schultz pitched well for UVU in the early stages as he retired the side in order in each of the first four innings. During the stretch, Schultz also struck out six consecutive batters, which included striking out the side in order in the second.
The Hornets then got their first base runner on in the fifth thanks to a walk drawn by Ryan Walstad, but UVU quickly responded as
Drew Sims threw out Walstad trying to steal second to end the threat. The Wolverines then tacked on their third run of the ballgame in the bottom of the frame thanks to a solo home run to left from senior
Michael Beltran to extend UVU's lead to 3-0.
With Schultz holding a no-hitter into the sixth, Sac State then managed to get things going for the first time of the game that frame. After a one-out single from Aaron Zeidman, Matt Smith started the scoring for the Hornets with an RBI single to center to make it 3-1. The Hornets later loaded the bases in the frame and the catcher Bacho delivered the big blow with a go-ahead grand slam down the rightfield line to give Sacramento State its first lead of the game at 5-3. Bacho's grand slam just stayed fair as well as just snuck out over the short porch in right to put the Hornets up for good.
Still 5-3, UVU then responded in the last of the eighth by getting two runners on with nobody out. After back-to-back outs, the Wolverines then got a clutch two-out RBI double from
Kade Poulsen to plate
Alexander Marco and make it a one-run game at 5-4. With the tying runner on third and the go-ahead runner on second, senior Estrada then looked to drop in the go-ahead base knock to right-center but Sac State's Bronson Grubbs made a great play to get to the ball just in time to make the grab and keep it a 5-4 contest.
With two outs in the ninth, UVU then got the tying runner on base in Beltran after he was hit by a pitch to make things interesting. But Sac State closer Tanner Dalton responded by drawing a game-ending groundout off the bat of senior
Ryan Eastburn to end the ballgame.
Despite striking out double digits for the third time on the year, Schultz was the tough-luck loser for the Wolverines after surrendering five runs on four hits in 6.0 innings of work.
Jesse Schmit then came on and threw a trio of scoreless innings of relief for UVU, as he struck out four and didn't allow a hit over the final three innings.
Sac State's Scott Randall was credited with the win to improve to 7-1 on the year after allowing just two earned runs over 6.0 innings, while Dalton recorded his sixth save after striking out two and not allowing a run over the final inning and a third.
Poulsen led the UVU offense on the day by going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a double, the senior Beltran went 1-for-3 with a homer and a walk on Senior Day. Bacho paced the Hornets by going 1-for-3 with a walk and the go-ahead grand slam.
The Wolverines and Hornets will close the three-game weekend series on Sunday at noon at UCCU Ballpark. The contest will mark UVU's final home conference game of the 2019 season. Utah Valley will then step out of conference play for its final home game of the year when it welcomes Pac-12 foe Washington State to town on Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. and will close its regular season at with a three-game WAC series at UT Rio Grande Valley next weekend (May 16-18).
