OREM, Utah – Sacramento State managed to score 11 unanswered runs en route to earning an 11-7 come-from-behind victory in Sunday's nightcap to sweep Utah Valley in a four-game WAC series at dōTERRA Field at UCCU Ballpark.
 
With the Wolverines holding to a 5-0 lead in the seventh, the defending WAC Tournament champion Hornets finally managed to get to UVU starter Mason Gray on their way to scoring eight runs in the frame to take an 8-5 lead. Sac State then tacked on three more in the eighth and Utah Valley responded with two runs in the last of the eighth, but it wasn't enough as Sac State went on to pull out the victory, 11-7. 
 
Sac State (14-5, 7-1 WAC) also managed to defeat UVU (2-13, 0-4 WAC) in the first game of the Sunday twin bill by a score of 10-4. 
 
The Wolverines were the first to get things going in Sunday's nightcap by loading the bases in the last of the second and pushing a run across to take a 1-0 lead. Pacen Hayes started the spurt with a one-out infield hit and Brandon Luna followed with a single to right to put two on. Following a fielder's choice, Andrew Hacker then drew a walk to load the bases, and Garrett Broussard followed with a two-out RBI walk to drive in Luna and give UVU the early lead.
 
The Wolverines later added four runs in the fourth—all coming with two away in the frame—to extend their lead to 5-0. Trey Newman started the rally with a lead-off double and later advanced to third on a groundout. Mitch Moralez then brought him home with a two-out RBI single for the first run of the frame. Alexander Marco followed with a single to put runners on first and second. After a Sac State pitching change, Kade Poulsen then delivered an RBI single to bring in Moralez, and Jeff Arens capped the scoring with a two-run double to left to give UVU the five-run cushion.
 
The Hornets then got multiple runners aboard for the first time of the game in the top of the sixth, but UVU starter Mason Gray responded by retiring back-to-back hitters to leave runners stranded on the corners.
 
The starter Gray was solid through six, as he limited the Hornet offense to just two hits into the seventh. Sacramento State then managed to break through for the first time of the game in the seventh with four quick hits off of Gray, including a two-run home run from Keith Torres to pull within a run, and chase Gray from the contest. With UVU holding to a 5-4 lead, the Hornets then managed to get back-to-back hits and then took the lead for the first time of the contest on a dropped fly ball in left to bring in a pair of unearned runs and their first lead of the game at 6-5. Sac State then tacked on two more unearned runs in the inning to extend their lead to 8-5. 
 
After Sacramento State scored a trio of insurance runs in the top of the eighth, UVU struck back with two runs of their own in the last of the eighth thanks to an RBI double from Poulsen and a sacrifice fly from Drew Sims to make it 11-7. But that's as close as UVU could make it in the late innings, as Sac State's Stone Churby pitched around a lead-off double from Broussard to end the ballgame.
 
Gray took a no decision in the contest after striking out seven over 6.2 strong innings of work, while senior reliever Spenser Triplett was tagged with the loss (0-2) after giving up four unearned runs in the seventh. Sac State's Brady Rodriguez was credited with the win in relief to improve to 3-0 on the season.
 
Poulsen led UVU offensively in Sunday's nightcap by going 3-for-6 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Arens also drove home two runs for UVU in the contest while Marco and Hayes each collected two hits. Matt Smith led Sac State by going 3-for-5 with a three-run homer in the eighth.
 
To read about Sunday's first game of the twin bill, click HERE.
 
The Wolverines will now step out of conference play for a UCCU Crosstown Clash at neighboring rival BYU on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Larry H. Miller Field. The contest will mark the first of two season meetings between the in-state foes, as BYU will later come to UCCU Ballpark on May 4. 
 
Utah Valley will return to WAC play this weekend with a four-game league series at Northern Colorado (March 26-28).