MORAGA, Calif. – After winning the first game of the doubleheader earlier in the day, the Utah Valley University baseball team found itself on the wrong end of a 5-2 contest in the nightcap of the twin bill on Saturday afternoon at Louis Guisto Field in Moraga.
 
Despite dropping Saturday's second game, UVU is 2-1 in the series and on the season after defeating Saint Mary's (1-2) in both Friday's season opener, 2-1, as well as in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, 3-2. The Wolverines will look to take the season-opening series on Sunday.
 
In Saturday's nightcap, the Gaels took their first lead of the weekend in the bottom of the third when they managed to strike first with a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead. Following back-to-back one-out singles along with consecutive stolen bases, Eric Smelko drove home the first run of the game for SMC with an RBI infield single to bring in Kyle Velazquez. Ryan Novis then quickly followed with an RBI single to center to bring home Jacob Talamante and make it 2-0 Gaels.
 
Then in the fifth inning, Saint Mary's tacked on a pair of unearned runs to extend its lead to 4-0. After consecutive one-out hits from Smelko and Novis, Justin Banks was then able to get a ball past UVU's Mitch Moralez on the right side of the infield which resulted in both Smelko and Novis coming home to give SMC the four-run cushion. 
 
The Gaels tacked on another unearned run in the seventh to make it 5-0.
 
The Wolverine offense managed to get a couple runs back in the top of the eighth to avoid the shutout and make it 5-2. Mick Madsen and Brandon Luna started the rally with back-to-back hits to put two on with nobody out. Following a strikeout, Garrett Broussard drove in Madsen with an RBI single to center for UVU's first run of the game. Mitch Moralez then walked to load the bases and Alexander Marco followed with a walk of his to drive in Luna and make it a three-run game. With the bases still loaded and just one away in the frame, SMC reliever Preston Howey came on and retired the next two batters he faced to leave the bases loaded and end the threat. 
 
Then in the ninth, SMC's Howey retired the Wolverines in order to earn the save and ensure the victory for Saint Mary's.
 
Madsen and Luna led UVU offensively in the contest by each going 2-for-4 with a run scored apiece. Broussard and Marco both drove in runs in the game for Utah Valley, while freshman Cody Johnson picked up his first collegiate hit with a double in the fifth inning.
 
Junior right-hander Bobby Voortmeyer (0-1) started on the mound for UVU and gave up two earned runs (four total) in 4.1 innings to suffer the defeat. Both Jaxson Otis and Blake Zeleny then came on in relief and pitched well for the Wolverines by combining to allow just one unearned run and one hit over the final 3.2 innings. SMC's Ky Bush (1-0) earned the win after tossing 5.0 scoreless innings, while Howey came on in the eighth to record the save.
 
In the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, second-year freshman Nick Sims tossed 5.1 innings of shutout action and fellow freshman Devin Smitch came on to record the three-inning save en route to helping Wolverines defeat the Gaels. To read more about Saturday's first game of the twin bill, click HERE.
 
UVU will look to take the opening-season series on Sunday, as the series will close with a 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT contest at Louis Guisto Field. The ballgame will be streamed live on the WCC Network and sophomore right-hander Mason Gray is slated to start on the mound for the Wolverines.