SAN JOSE, Calif. – Bay Area native Jake Berry homered in the ninth and drove in the winning run in the 13th, en route to leading Utah Valley University to a 6-5 13-inning win over San José State in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Excite Ballpark.
 
Berry finished his clutch performance by going 3-for-6 with a trio of extra-base hits, two runs batted in and two runs scored. Garrett Broussard too had a big game at the plate by also going 3-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI. Mitch Moralez and Kade Poulsen also had a multi-hit outings in the game for UVU. 
 
The Wolverines improve to 2-8 on the season with the victory, while SJSU falls to 4-6 with the loss. The two teams have now split the first two games of the weekend series at a game apiece and the win marked head UVU coach Eric Madsen's 299th career victory.
 
The Spartans capitalized on a couple of UVU misplays in the first on their way to jumping out to an early 3-0 lead. After a leadoff hit and a one-out and an infield single, Troy Viola drove home the first run with an RBI single to center. A second run came around to score on that play on a fielding error in the outfield to make it 2-0. Later with baserunners on first and third following a single off the pitcher, SJSU's Johnny Mendoza made it 3-0 with an RBI single to center. 
 
San José State then made it 4-0 in the second thanks to a one-out RBI single from Reece Hernandez. 
 
The Wolverines then put together a two-out offensive rally in the third to get a run back and make it 4-1. Following a two-out hit from Moralez and walk drawn by Alexander Marco, Pacen Hayes doubled to left to drive in Moralez and make it a three-run deficit. The Wolverines later loaded the bases in the frame following a walk from Mick Madsen, but SJSU's Kevin Kyle responded by striking out Skyler Davis to end the threat.
 
Still 4-1 in the in the seventh, the senior Berry doubled off the top of the wall in left and Broussard followed with an RBI double to left center to drive him home to make it 4-2. Connor Hall then kept the rally going with an RBI double of his own to left to drive in Broussard and make it a one-run game at 4-3. The three straight doubles came with one away in the frame, but SJSU's reliever Wesley Clawson managed to retire the next two batters he faced to keep it a one-run game.
 
The Spartans then struck back with a run of their own in the bottom of the seventh thanks to an RBI single from Hernandez to extend their lead to 5-3. SJSU had another runner on third in the frame, but UVU reliever Nick Sims battled back by striking out Mendoza looking to end the threat.
 
Still 5-3 in the ninth, Berry blasted out UVU's first home run of the 2020 season with a solo shot to left with one away to make it 5-4. Broussard then followed with a single to right to put the tying run aboard with one out in the frame. Back at the top of the lineup and following a pitching change, Hall then worked a walk to put runners on first and second with just one away. Moralez then followed with a single through the left side of the infield to drive in Broussard from second to tie the game at 5-5. With the bases later loaded and still just one away, Hayes lifted a ball to right but SJSU's James Shimashita managed to make the catch and through a strike to the plate for an inning-ending double play to send it to the last of the ninth all knotted up at 5-all. 
 
UVU reliever Logan Petet then mowed down the Spartans in order in the last of the ninth to send the game to extra innings. 
 
Both pitchers then retired the side in order in the 10th to send the game to the 11th. With one out in the top of the 11th, Broussard singled up the middle and Hall promptly followed with a walk to put runners on first and second. After a flyout from Moralez moved what represented the go-ahead run in Broussard to third with two outs, SJSU reliever Jonathan Wiltfang responded by striking out Marco to keep the game deadlocked at 5-5. 
 
Still tied at 5-5 in the 13th, Poulsen started off the inning with a leadoff single and Jake Plecas promptly entered the game to run for him. Plecas then advanced to second on a passed ball to put the go-ahead run in scoring position, and Berry drive him home with his second double of ballgame to centerfield to give the Wolverines a 6-5 advantage. 
 
In the last of the 13th, SJSU got a one-out walk from Dalton Bowling but it wasn't enough as UVU reliever Spenser Triplett retired the next two batters he faced to end the threat and the ballgame. 
 
Triplett (1-0) picks up his first win of the season in relief after pitching the final 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. Nick Sims too pitched well in middle relief in the contest for UVU by allowing just one run on four hits while striking out four in 5.2 innings of work, while fellow reliever Petet too had a strong performance by throwing 3.1 innings of scoreless work. SJSU's Wiftfang was tagged with the loss to drop to 0-1 in the year.
 
The twin bill will continue with the nightcap at approximately 7:05 p.m. MT/6:05 p.m. PT. The non-conference series will then conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m. MT/noon PT.