OREM — Utah Valley played its first home series in nearly two years, dropping a pair of decisions to WAC-foe Sacramento State, at doTERRA Field at UCCU Ballpark on Friday. The Wolverines fell 8-3 in game one and lost a close one, 8-5, in the night cap.

With the losses, UVU now sits at 2-11 on the year and 0-2 in WAC play. The defending WAC Tournament champion Hornets improve to 12-5 on the season, including 5-1 in conference play.

In the first game, the Wolverines fell behind 3-0 in the second before Brandon Luna hit a solo shot over the right-field wall, cutting the lead down to 3-1. The home run marked Luna's first in a UVU uniform. The Hornets extended their lead to 5-1 in the top of the third before Logan Petet came on in relief for UVU and held Sacramento State scoreless over the next three innings.
 
Alexander Marco later knocked one out of the ballpark in left to cut the deficit to 5-2 but the Hornets scored three more in the top half of the seventh to put the game out of reach, at 8-2. Mick Madsen batted in a runner in the bottom of the frame but it wasn't enough as UVU fell, 8-3. Kade Poulson went 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored and Garrett Broussard batted 2-for-4.
 
In game two, UVU gave up a run in the opening inning to fall behind 1-0. Nick Sims was able to settle down from there, getting out of the jam in the first and then holding Sacramento State scoreless for the next three innings. After Jeff Arens singled to left, Poulsen drilled a two-run shot over the left-field wall to give the Wolverines a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth.
 
The Hornets were able to tie the game back up at 2-2 in the top of the fifth. After a pitching change in the top of the sixth inning, Sacramento State took the lead for good with two unearned runs and one earned run to give the Hornets a 5-2 lead.

Jake Plecas hit a double to deep center and Mitch Moralez knocked him in with a single to left field to cut the lead to 5-3.
 
Sacramento State tacked on three more runs in the late innings to extend the lead to 8-3.

In the ninth, Moralez singled to right and Drew Sims crushed a homer to left to bring the final score to 8-5. Moralez finished 3-for-5 with a run scored and Arens and Plecas each had a pair of hits in the night cap. After having just homer on the season entering the day, the UVU offense managed to belt out four home runs on Friday. 

Friday's first game not only marked UVU's home opener, but also its conference opener as well. 

Utah Valley continues its series with Sacrament State on Saturday, March 20, at UCCU Ballpark, with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. The series will wrap up with the final game on Sunday, March 21 at 12:00 p.m.